01x21 - How Sydney Got Her Phone Back

[bunniefuu]

Mr. Tanaka: And in ,

Mrs. O'Leary's cow
kicked over a lantern

and started
the Great Chicago Fire,

destroying the entire city.

- (phone chiming)
- Oops.

Sorry. So, so sorry.

Okay, where was I? Um...

Cow. Fire. Go.

- (phone chimes)
- Ms. Rozalski,

what could possibly
be more important

than the tragic destruction
of one of our greatest cities?

"Chimichangas for lunch today."

They run out if you don't
get there right away,

which let me tell you,
is pretty tragic.

- (phone chimes)
- Now what?

"Can you believe
he read Olive's texts?"

You know what?
This a perfect time

for you to hear about
our new phone policy.

- What new policy?
- I'll tell you.

Whoa! Vice Principal Virmani.

Where'd he come from?

It's my job to be everywhere.

Let me introduce you
to the phone pouch.

You put your phone in here
in the morning, lock it,

and at the end of the day,
we open it for you.

- (gasps, murmurs)
- Wait. All day?

We won't be able to use
our phones for the whole day?

This is the worst disaster ever!

Seriously?

This can't be legal.

I'm going to talk to my mom.

She's a lawyer and on
the Parent School Committee.

Actually, it was
your mom's idea.

That sounds about right.

In fact,
the Parent School Committee

is voting to approve
funds tonight.

And trust me, it gives me no
joy taking things from students.

Well, I'm off to tell
the next class!

(bell rings)

Here you go.

Enjoy them while you can.

Guys, what are we gonna do?

People say you can live
without your phone,

but has it ever been proven?

Don't worry. My dad's on
the Parent School Committee.

I'm sure I can convince him
to vote against it.

- (phone chimes)
- Guys.

More bad news.

They're almost out
of chimichangas!

(theme music playing)

♪ Like father, like daughter,
we don't always agree ♪

♪ But looking at you
is like looking at me ♪

♪ The more things change,
the more they stay the same ♪

♪ Like father, like daughter,
from different times ♪

♪ Taking all the best
from your decade and mine ♪

♪ The more things change ♪

♪ The more they stay the same ♪

♪ The more they stay the same ♪

♪ ♪

Dad, Dad! You've got
to do something.

Can I do something
after my chip and dip hour?

I was just about to dip my chip.

No, the school wants
to take away our phones.

For the whole day!

Well, that does seem
pretty drastic.

Right? It's a total
overreaction.

I mean, if I'm late to class,

I get detention.
I don't get expelled.

Have you been late to class?

Dad, I said "If."

Seriously, Tiff,
that dress was straight fire.

Hey, whatever's going on here,
I'm on Syd's side.

They're trying to ban
cell phones at school.

What? I would never let
anyone take my phone.

I use it for all sorts
of important stuff at school.

Exactly. I manage
my schedule, take notes,

take pictures of my
assignments on the board.

Find out if campus police are
breaking up the party I'm heading to.

Not helping, Grandma.

Gotcha, Noodle.

Hey, Tiff, I found out hottie Officer
Kurt might be working tonight.

Would you go dress or jeans
for questioning?

I agree. Your phone
should not be taken away.

Your grandmother's should.

In that case, maybe you could say
something tonight at the meeting.

I'd be happy to.
This phone ban is completely unreasonable.

Really? Thank you.

Of course Syd,
I'm always looking out for you.

You just won Dad Of The Year.

It was only one vote,
but it was a landslide.

Well, I better get prepared
for my speech.

And don't worry,
I'm not gonna "phone it in."

Yeah, get that all out now.

What's going on here?

Hello, Vice Principal Virmani.

Leo Webb. You remember me.

I worked in the office
for two weeks and...

brightened every morning
with a song.

I don't know, a lot of kids
come through there.

So Mr. Reynolds,
I'm sure you're aware

of our new zero-tolerance policy

on riding skateboards at school.

Hand it over.

I wasn't riding.

I was just holding it.

You skateboarders.

You think the rules
don't apply to you.

You go around jumping curbs,
hopping benches.

Saying words like "tubular."

Mr. Virmani,

Max happens to be
a very good friend of mine,

and if he says...

I'm out.

Mr. Reynolds, I'm waiting.

You'll get this back
when you learn your lesson.

- What does that mean?
- Let's not be coy.

What does that mean?

Sorry, Max. I tried.

And to think
I sang for that man.

♪ ♪

And in conclusion,
if we want our kids

to learn self-control
with their phones,

we should teach them.

Not take away the very thing
we want them

to learn control over!

Wow, he nailed it.

Hey, I just gave him the idea.

He made it soar.

- What about the table pound?
- All him.

Thank you, Max.
Excellent points.

But are you aware
of the recent studies

that show cell phone
usage in school

can lead to a five percent
drop in test scores?

I did not know that.

Are you also aware that
when they took away phones

at a school in England,
the lack of distractions

was equal to an extra week
of schooling?

I did not know that either.

I'd like to call on Mr. Tanaka

to give us the teacher's
perspective on this issue.

All: Oh no.

Mr. Tanaka, have phones posed
a problem in your classroom?

Are you kidding?

Just this morning,
I had to take phones from three students,

all because of chimichangas.

I move we vote.

All those in favor
of funding the phone pouches

for the school, raise your hand.

Don't worry, guys.
Sophia's mom made a strong case.

But so did my dad.

All those opposed?

Well, it's two votes for
and two against.

Looks like it's
all up to you, Max.

Uh...

Can I abstain?

Yea, or nay, Max?

All (whispering): Nay. Nay. Nay!

Ye...

N-N-N...

Max.

Yea. I support the phone ban.

- (murmuring)
- What?

♪ ♪

I don't know why
Professor Johnson got so salty.

All I said was a man bun
over a bald spot

just doesn't work.

I can't believe you caved
at that meeting.

Syd, I did not cave.

I have no idea what's going on,

but Syd's making
some very good points.

I'll catch you up.

I'm right, he's wrong.

Look, I listened
to the arguments

the other parents made
about phones in school

and they made a lot
of sense to me.

But you're the one
who has to give up your phone.

And the students
didn't even get a voice in this.

Besides, what happened
to looking out for me?

Syd, as a parent, sometimes
looking out for you

means making choices
that are good for you,

even though you
may not like them.

Well, I don't.

This is so unfair.

Okay.

Now I get what you guys
were arguing about.

Still on Syd's side.

Where have you been?

I've been driving around the
neighborhood looking for you.

I got a lot done,
but I was still worried.

I had to walk home from school!

The vice principal took
my skateboard!

- What did you do?
- Nothing this time.

I was just holding it.
I wasn't even riding it.

He's telling the truth, Judy.

- Can I call you Judy?
- Never.

Look Max, if he took away
your skateboard,

he must have had a good reason.

But he didn't.

And now I may never
get my board back.

I'm sorry Max, but that man did
me a favor taking your skateboard.

He saved me from having to
accidentally back over it with the car.

That's it. We're sneaking
into Virmani's office

and getting my board back.

He's left me no choice.

What are you doing?

Practicing for detention.

And after the Chicago fire,

the city was rebuilt
in three short years.

Wow.

I just got through a whole class
without one phone going off.

Look at me now, Mom.

(bell rings)

I can't stand this.
My phone just vibrated.

Is it a text? Is it a call?

Or does it just miss me?

I miss you, too.

Guys, wait.

I gotta pack up all my apps.

My calendar.
Calculator. Address book.

Dictionary. Flashlight.
And an instant camera.

And when this develops,
I'll know if I got the whole assignment.

Yippee!

This is impossible.

It's no fun expressing
my feelings without my phone.

I had to make emoji flashcards.

What are you feeling now?

I've got to find a way
to convince my dad

to go back to the committee
and change their minds.

How are you gonna do that?

I'll just have to show him
how it feels when someone

decides what's good for you
and you don't get a say.

What's the dolphin for?

Aw, man! I meant
the thumbs up emoji.

I can't live like this!

♪ ♪

Hey, Dad. Glad you're home.
How was work?

It was a tough day. I'm really looking
forward to my chip and dip hour.

- No hard feelings about the phone?
- Not at all.

Hey, where's my chips?

Well, Dad. I got to reading
the package

and those chips are just
so high in fat and salt.

I know. That's why I love them.

I'm just looking out for you.

And that's why I bought you
these delicious seaweed snacks.

Seaweed snacks?

Isn't that just a fancy name
for fish food?

You know, as a daughter,

looking out for you
sometimes means

making choices you may not like.

You know what I'm saying?

Loud and clear.

So I'm guessing
my multi-layered dip is...

In the garbage.

Okay, I know what
you're doing here, Sydney.

And I just want to say...

- Thank you.
- What?

If feels good

to have someone
looking out for me.

Bleck. It's stuck on my tongue.

♪ ♪

Okay, so the snacks didn't
get Dad to change his mind

but this should break him.

You know how Dad gets
without his coffee.

He's like an angry badger
being poked with a stick.

Hey! Have you tried
poking him with a stick?

- Morning Syd, Mom.
- Good morning.

Hey, what happened
to all the coffee?

Well, you know, Dad,
I was thinking

you drink way too much coffee.

- Just looking out for you.
- You know? You're right.

Once again, you have
saved me from myself.

- Thank you.
- You are so, so welcome.

Now let me get you
some breakfast.

Fine. How about some
French toast and bacon?

Actually, now that you have me
thinking about my health,

I've been thinking...

about yours.

No need. I feel good.

But French toast is loaded
with so much sugar.

Instead...

I made you a pitcher of Dr. Max's
special breakfast juice.

Kale, turnips,

garlic, and seven
different fish oils.

'Cause I'm always
looking out for you.

Sounds delicious, Dad.

But if it's so good for me,

it must be good for you, too.

You should have some.

Huh?

Okay.

Maybe a little.

Mom, you wanna get in on this?

No, thanks.
I'm just enjoying my coffee.

(sniffs) Oh,
I sense notes of blackberry,

chocolate, and what is that?

Oh, heaven.

Luckily I have my glass
of Dr. Max's.

Yum.

Bottom's up.

Wow. That tasted so...

healthy.

Who needs that delicious cup of
coffee that you enjoy every morning?

I don't.

And who needs banana
stuffed French toast

with caramelized brown sugar?
Am I right?

Totally.

Not when I got this wonderful,

garlicky breakfast drink.

And I so enjoy that fishy kick.

Well, I better go.

Here, Grandma.

Let me help you dump out
this still hot cup

of fresh roasted joy
down the drain.

Bye, bye, coffee.

Stop! Stop, stop, stop!

I need my coffee.
You win. I need my coffee.

- Yes!
- Wow, that was fun.

We should do this more often.

You know, Syd.
You proved your point.

People making choices for you
is not very fun.

- Thank you.
- But that doesn't mean

I've changed my mind
about cell phones.

Let me give you some more juice.

No. No more juice.

Look, you were right.

Student voices
deserve to be heard.

So at the next
Parent Committee meeting,

I will make sure
you kids get your say.

Thanks, Dad.

Now let's get
some real breakfast.

I'll get the coffee
from the basement.

I'll get the bacon
from the garage.

♪ ♪

Told you Vice Principal Virmani
wouldn't be here.

- How'd you know that?
- Because every day at : ,

he grabs a cookie off Doris
the guidance counselor's desk.

- How'd you know that?
- Because every day at : ,

I grab a cookie
off Doris's desk.

Okay, I'll find my skateboard.
You keep a lookout.

The panic word is...

- flamingo.
- Got it.

Don't get it, but I got it.

Jackpot!

And I think this dude's
selling staplers on the side.

Flamingo!

Hide!

Quick! Under the desk!

(phone beeps)

Hey, Hal. What's up?

A cloud that looks
like a choo-choo train?

Wow, I'll take a look.

Is it left or right
of the poodle?

Yes, there's a poodle!

Let's get outta here.

Mr. Virmani?

Judy Reynolds.

My mom?

Double flamingo!

Ms. Reynolds, come in.

(in deep voice):
We'll settle this later.

I understand that you took my
son's skateboard away from him,

and I wanna thank you for that.

But then I thought about it,
and it's time he got it back.

I'm sorry, but we have
a very strict policy

against riding them on campus.

Max says he wasn't riding it.

Well, you know
these skateboarders.

They'll tell you anything.

He's not just a skateboarder.

He's my son, and I believe Max.

Did you hear that?

First time for everything.

Trust me, I know
when my son is lying to me.

And this time, he's not lying.
So can I have his skateboard?

- I'm sorry, but...
- Before you answer, look in my eyes.

Do I look like
the kind of mother

you really want to say no to?

And if you're waiting
for me to blink,

it's not gonna happen.

Now, where's that skateboard?

Oh, here it is.

And I'm sorry about the mix-up.

Allow me to walk you out.

I'd love your opinion
on a cloud.

- Come on, let's get out of here.
- Wait.

Yep, that's a choo-choo train.

♪ ♪

"And in conclusion,

"cell phones allow us to have
the world at our fingertips.

They improve time management
and make us better students."

That was great, Sydney.

Thanks. But what if
they don't take me seriously?

I mean, I'm just a kid.

Not always a mature one.

I still giggle when I hear
the word doodie.

(giggling)

You said doodie.

Hello, girls.

Congratulations, Sydney.

I hear you're speaking
at the meeting tonight.

- Even though I doubt you'll change anyone...
- (phone chiming)

What was I saying?

Oh yeah, see you tonight.

It's not fair.

Mr. Tanaka's just as distracted
by his phone as we are.

And no one takes his.

You know what?

I think I just came up
with an idea

that'll help change their minds.

Use your words, Sophia.

♪ ♪

Okay, next item on the agenda,

Max Reynolds has asked to speak.

- Max?
- Thank you.

But I would like
to give the floor

to someone who usually doesn't
get a say in our decisions...

an actual student. Sydney?

Whoo!

Thank you, Mister... Dad.

I'm here on behalf
of my fellow students

to discuss the cell phone ban.

Okay, Kayla. Text your mom.

Now, we all know that cell phones
can be a complicated issue.

And I won't deny that
they are very distracting.

(phone chimes)

Hey, what are you doing?
That's mine.

I'm sorry, but we have a
no-phone policy at this school.

And I'm sure you, the adult, would
want to set a good example for us kids.

As I was saying...

(quietly): Jimmy, you're up.

Research shows phones
impact our ability to focus.

(phone chimes)

Hey!

And I just wanna say
one more thing.

(whispering):
Everybody, it's go time.

Text them all.

(phones chiming)

Hey! That's my grandma!

Please, it's a confirmation
for your pizza order.

That's a lot of meat.

- I'll take that.
- Oh, please, Sophia.

It's me, it's Mommy!

Everybody!
You'll get your phones back.

But I think what we've
all shown here tonight

is that we all struggle
with our phones.

And we'll never learn
self-control

if they're taken away.

So please, patience,
not pouches.

Whoo!

- I move for a revote.
- (whooping)

Wow, that's so awesome.

Like I said, I'll always
be looking out for you.

Thanks, Dad.

- Hey, Mom.
- Hi, Max.

I've got a little
surprise for you.

You do?

What?

You got my skateboard back?

I went to VP Virmani
and charmed it out of him.

Really? Thanks for
having my back, Mom.

- Now I can go back to skating.
- Absolutely.

- In a month.
- Wait.

- You said the vice principal was wrong.
- He was.

And so were you
for sneaking into his office.

What? I wasn't in
the vice principal's office.

Remember when I told him
I can tell when you're lying?

- Yeah.
- Gotcha.

Gah!

Thanks again for having
my back, Dad.

All I did was let you talk.

You're the one that got
the board to vote five to zero

to let the kids
keep their phones.

- But...
- I know.

If we use them in class,
they get pouched.

Yes, it's a verb now.

Did I ever tell you
about the time

my skateboard was taken away
by Vice Principal Virmani?

He was vice principal
when you were there?

Wow, he is way overdue
for a promotion.

You know, this was a good idea

putting our phones away
and just getting to talk.

Yeah, I don't need to be
on my phone all the time.

(phone buzzing)

I mean, look.
One of our phones just vibrated.

And do we care? Nope.

Not at all.

We're not obsessed.

(phone buzzing)

What's that combination?
Nine, seven...

I am five seconds
from getting a hammer.

Oh, yeah!