♪ What would you do
if I sang out of tune? ♪
♪ Would you stand up
and walk out on me? ♪
♪ Lend me your ears,
and I'll sing you a song ♪
♪ I will try not to
sing out of key, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, baby, I get by ♪
- ♪ by with a little help
from my friends ♪
-♪ All I need is my buddies ♪
-♪ High with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ I'm sayin' I'm gonna get higher ♪ - ♪
try with a little help from my friends ♪
- ♪ Whoa-oa-oa-oa, yeah ♪
- ♪ ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
-Houston, we've
got a preliminary...
-The transition from
summer to fall is a tricky one.
Like astronauts
returning from space,
We had to re-enter the
atmosphere of school carefully
So the sudden change in
pressure wouldn't k*ll us.
[Applause]
-You brought 'em in beautifully.
[Indistinct conversations]
-Still, the beginning
of eighth grade
Looked like it was gonna
be a smooth landing.
We weren't the lowest men
on the totem pole anymore.
We were men among
seventh-grade boys.
More importantly, we were
men among seventh-grade girls.
[Bell rings]
-♪ A, b, c ♪
♪ Easy as 1, 2, 3 ♪
♪ Or simple as do, re, mi ♪
♪ A, b, c ♪
-In social studies, we
talked about woodstock.
-♪ Easy as 1, 2, 3 ♪
-And I could feel the love.
-Men...
These... Are ropes.
-In gym, we were
introduced to the obvious.
-♪ I'm gonna teach
you how to sing it out ♪
-♪ Come on, come on, come on ♪
♪ Let me show you
what it's all about ♪
♪ Reading, writing,
arithmetic... ♪
-In french, miss
martinson showed us slides
From her trip to paris.
-[Clears throat] wrong slide.
-Yep. Everything
was looking a-okay.
All systems go.
[Indistinct conversations]
Until fourth period.
-Take your seats and
open your textbooks
To unit one, page 16.
We will begin with the
introduction to variables.
-Who is this guy?
-My name is mr. Collins.
If we use a symbol, such as "x,"
To represent the
unspecified member of the set...
-So much for introductions.
-In a venn diagram,
"S" is the replacement
symbol for the variable "x."
-We'd never seen
anything like him.
He was a math machine...
All math, all the time,
With the chalk
marks to prove it.
-If the union of sets
"s" and "t" is -2 and 0,
What is the intersection?
-Faced with this
implacable force,
We rose to the challenge.
-Yes.
-Mr. Collins,
How did you learn to
draw such neat circles?
-Each in our own way.
-It is not necessary to
draw perfect circles
To do these problems correctly.
It will not affect
your grade either way.
-But nothing distracted him.
-Is this, like, stuff
that you could use
To figure out tom seaver's
earned run average?
-Not the amazing mets...
-No. That would be
simple arithmetic.
-Ooh! Ooh!
Ooh!
- Not even the cries
of the tortured.
-The answer is
the set of -2 and 0.
-[Groans]
-We further illustrate...
-We threw everything
we had at him...
- To describe the
relationship between various...
Set "b"...
- But we didn't have a chance.
- Positive numbers.
Now, these numbers and
their negatives in set "a"
Make up the set of
rational numbers.
-Psst! What page are we on?
-No talking.
Any rational number...
-Sheesh. I mean, come on.
Who died and made this guy king?
-Yes?
Do you have a problem?
-Um...
No.
[Bell rings]
-For tomorrow, I would like
you to do problems 1 through 10
On page 18.
[Students groan]
-Boy, what's the
story with this guy?
He's gonna k*ll us.
-Nah, don't worry about him.
-Sure, he looked tough,
but I wasn't worried.
-Come on. Let's go to lunch.
-Not to brag or anything,
but I was a pretty bright kid,
Compared to the competition.
-Wayne, how was your
first day in high school?
-Huh?
-With wayne, that's about
all my parents expected.
With me, they
expected a little more.
-Well, I had a good day.
English, french, math.
-Face it... They
were proud of me.
I guess it was
kind of by default.
-[Slurping]
[Burps]
Well, got to go meet delores.
-Wait a minute. Not
on a school night.
In this family, we do
homework on school nights.
-What about him?
-What about him?
-Well, he's not
doing any homework.
-Don't worry about kevin.
When you're getting
kevin's grades, we'll talk.
-Okay, sometimes it was
a little embarrassing.
But it's not like there
weren't responsibilities.
Yep. Wouldn't be a bad
idea to bone up a little,
Start the year off with an ace.
Or maybe a "b."
B-plus, maybe.
[Violins shrieking]
- "D"?
-These are the results
of your pop quiz.
- "D"?
-It was horrible. I'd
never gotten a "d" before,
Not even in penmanship.
[Bell rings]
-For homework... Problems
15 through 25 on page 20.
-There was only one
possible explanation...
This had to be a mistake.
-Kev, you coming to lunch?
-In a minute. I have
to talk to collins.
-Okay, but hurry up.
Sloppy joes today.
-I had to handle this
with a little tact.
-Hi.
-After all, the man was human.
-Yes?
-So much for that theory.
-Um... I have a
question about my quiz.
-Yes?
-About the grade.
Well, it's a "d."
-Yes, it is.
-Okay. We'd made a start.
-Well, i... Think it
might be wrong.
-Well, let's take a look.
-You're right.
-There. That wasn't so hard.
-Number 5 should be -1/2.
That's half off.
This is a d-.
[Paper rustles]
Thank you for calling
that to my attention.
-Oh.
-Now wait a darn minute here!
-Mr. Collins?
-What?
-Well...
[Sighs]
-If you're having a problem,
I run a help group after school
on tuesdays and thursdays.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa!
This guy was getting
entirely the wrong impression.
I had to nip this in
the bud, and fast.
-No, it... It's just that...
I don't think of
myself as a "d" student.
-Really?
-Well, it's just that
it's a little unusual,
Don't you think?
I mean, a quiz on the
second day of school?
-O-o-okay.
-What I'm saying is that
i... Wasn't as prepared
As I might have been.
-Well, I don't think
this is representative
Of the work I usually do.
-Then I look forward to seeing
your results on future quizzes.
Anything else?
-No.
That's fine.
-Sure. Fine.
Just fine.
If that's the way
collins wanted to play it.
-Hitting the books, huh?
-Yeah.
-Mm. Well, go get 'em, tiger.
-Sure, I'd get 'em.
Fact was, I hadn't really
studied for that first quiz.
But now I was serious.
I'd show collins what
I was really made of.
[Violins shrieking]
-What?
-This was nuts!
This was crazy! This was...
-Another "d"!
-What was going on here?
Was I losing my touch?
There had to be another answer.
-Can you believe this
guy? He's out of control!
I mean, what is his
problem, anyway?
I mean, the man is brutal, paul.
I mean, you see all this
stuff he's giving us?
And those pop quizzes every day?
Explain this... How
could it be a pop quiz
If there's one every day?
- I don't know.
- Of course you don't know,
Because there's no logic to it.
I mean, what was that last
stuff he was talking about,
That absolute value?
Half of the class
didn't even know
What he was talking about!
I mean, what is an
absolute value, anyway?
-It's the value of a number
without regard to its sign.
[Bell dings]
-All right. Stupid example.
-You're missing the point, paul.
See, the point is that collins
is just driving us too hard.
I mean, we're all
k*lling ourselves.
What's he gonna
do? Give us all d's?
-There's a certain look
That only a trusted
friend can give you,
A look that says,
"You're about to make a
total fool of yourself."
I was getting that look.
-Paul?
-Huh?
-What'd you get on the quiz?
-I forget.
-It doesn't mean
anything. I just got lucky.
-Yeah.
Lucky you.
-I'm gonna go get some
dessert. You want some?
-I wasn't hungry.
What I was was...
Worried.
[Knock on door]
-We're going out for ice
cream. You want to come?
-Um, no, thanks.
Got to study.
-Gonna ace another one, huh?
-Yeah.
Dad?
-What?
-Nothing.
-Don't work too hard.
-Right.
[Door closes]
-Maybe I should have
said something then.
But for some reason, I didn't.
How could I tell him
I wasn't the kevin
arnold he thought I was?
-[Sighs]
The absolute value...
Of -1...
Is 1.
-♪ One is the loneliest
number that you'll ever do ♪
- 2 = 0. That resolves to x-1.
And x-2 = 0, which
gives us two solutions.
Do they have anything in common?
-Over the next few days,
things went from bad to worse.
-Mr. Arnold?
-Yes?
-The intersection
of sets "b" and "c."
-Um...
X+4?
-Incorrect.
Mr. Pfeiffer?
-1 And 2.
-Correct.
Expressed as sets, that
means "x" represents the set...
-The pressure was increasing.
-How's everything going
at school, sweetheart?
-Uh... Fine.
-I was living a lie.
And it was only a matter of
time before I was found out.
-Kevin?
If this pitcher of lemonade
Makes eight servings
of 1 cup each,
How many servings will it make
If the cups are
filled only 2/3 full?
-Huh?
["The twilight
zone" theme plays]
-Kevin! Do you want
some lemonade?
-Um, no, thanks.
-Come on, honey.
It's good for you.
-Maybe.
But the fact was,
Lemonade wasn't going
to solve my problems.
That afternoon,
I just happened to pass
by mr. Collins' classroom.
By accident, of course.
So, what was the big deal?
Maybe I'd drop in, get a few
tips from the old help group.
Wait a minute.
This was the help group?
Jeff bledsoe thought
the boston tea party
Was a dispute over cheese.
Frank barnes had
been in the eighth grade
Since the eisenhower
administration.
In the delicate
ecosystem of junior high,
These guys were...
Well, let's face it...
Bottom-feeders.
-Are you joining us?
-Uh... No.
[Chuckles]
I just... Left something
in your class.
My pencil.
-I'm giving a major
test next week.
It would be a good opportunity
for you to bring up your grade.
-Yeah.
Well, uh, thanks for telling me,
But, uh... I really
have to be going.
-Sheesh.
Who did he think I
was, some kind of...
Loser?
- Loser's ball.
- [Grunts]
[Grunts]
-Now I was feeling better.
-15-0.
Want to play again?
-No, thanks.
-Why not?
-I got to study for the test.
-Ouch!
-Oh, come on. One more game.
-I can't.
-Paul.
-We could study
together if you want.
-What's that supposed to mean?
-Nothing.
-I don't need
your charity, paul.
-That's not what I meant.
-I don't need your help!
-Fine!
So I'll see you.
-All right, mr. Mathlete.
-Kevin.
-Oh, I'm sorry, paul, for not
being as mathletic as you.
I mean, have you ever
listened to yourself?
"Uh, the absolute
value of 7 is, uh, 3."
-Actually, it's 7.
-Who cares?!
Paul, my life is not so boring
that my only thrill is math.
-What do you say
to that, mr. Wizard?
-Good luck on the test tomorrow.
-So what?
I didn't need paul.
I didn't need anybody.
-Put your books on the floor.
-All I needed was... A miracle.
-Your desks should be clear
of everything but your pencils.
-If only I could
pull off a b-, or a "c."
Or a c-.
Okay.
Let's just take it
slow and easy here.
From the top.
Question number one.
Hmm. Nothing familiar.
Well, just find a question
you know how to do
And do that one first.
Opensubtitles recommends using nord vpn
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-[Clears throat]
-Pay no attention to that.
Move right along
to the next one.
[Heartbeat]
It took about four
minutes to attain...
Total panic.
[Clock ticking]
- [breathing rapidly]
-[Slowed] question 3
should read 5x, not 5.
-I was desperate.
I was a drowning man looking
for anything to cling to.
Anything.
[Clock stops, heartbeat stops]
And that's when I
realized I'd sunk as low
As a person in eighth-grade
algebra could sink.
[Bell rings]
And then it was over.
-Please turn in your exams.
[Indistinct conversations]
-You don't need to grade it.
I got an "f."
I didn't answer any
of the questions.
I-i don't understand math.
I'm... I'm lousy at it.
I... I have absolutely
no idea what I'm doing!
-Good.
-Huh?
-Maybe now you're
ready to start.
-Wait a minute.
I just told you... I failed!
-There'll be another
test in two weeks.
[Door opens, closes]
-[Sighs]
-I felt lost.
I felt confused.
I felt alone.
-You okay, pal?
Kev?
-No, dad.
I'm not.
-Multiplicative inverse
property tells us
For each real nonzero number
"a" there exists a real number, 1/a,
Such that a x 1/a = 1.
-There are times in life
when you think you're lost...
-Kevin?
Can you simplify the quotient?
-Um...
- When every turn
you take seems wrong.
- 1/5.
-No.
Try again.
-Then, just for a moment...
You see a light.
-Negative 1/5.
-Correct.
Now, you can also simplify
Using the absolute
value of factors.
-And so I began that
long climb into the light.
Only this time, I wasn't alone.
-♪ Well, the sun is
surely sinking down ♪
♪ But the moon
is slowly rising ♪
♪ So this old world must
still be spinning around ♪
♪ And I still love you ♪
♪ So close your eyes ♪
♪ You can close your eyes ♪
♪ It's all right ♪