03x11 - Do the Write Thing

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Sydney to the Max". Aired: January 25, 2019 to present.*
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Series follows middle schooler, Sydney who lives with her single Dad and her progressive Grandmother as she navigates life.
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03x11 - Do the Write Thing

Post by bunniefuu »



Now that we have wrapped
up our units on the bill of rights,

we can get to something I
know you've all been waiting for.

(imitating announcer):
Can I get a drumroll please?

-(drumming)
-and now,

are you ready to find
out who I assigned you all

for the iconic american
heroes presentation?

(cheering)

yes!

Alright, let's turn over those cards!

I think you're gonna love the
iconic figures I picked for you.

(bell ringing)

hey, syd. Who'd you get?

-I got john lewis.
-That's so cool.

He's one of the great civil
rights leaders of our time.

I know. He was incredible,

but I've been hinting to ms. A

how much I wanted supreme
court justice sonia sotomayor

since my grandma maya is a judge.

Looks like I got sonia sotomayor.

Well, ms. A must've assigned
us these people for a reason.

-Who'd you get,
olive? -None other
than susan b. Anthony.

Oh, she's great. I mean,

without susan b. Anthony,
women wouldn't be able to vote.

I'm gonna do a deep dive on her.

My goal is to blow the lid
off what the b stands for.

My guess is bertha. No! Barbie. No!

Boomerang!

Wait, that's not a name.

(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 ♪

♪ do do, do do do do, do do ♪

♪ the more they stay the same ♪

♪ ♪

what's the matter?

Big problem at the bike shop. Big.

Oh no! What happened?

There's a pigeon in the bathroom.

Did you try knocking?

Come on, mom. You
know my fear of birds.

Their claws, their beaks,

the weird way they nod their
heads at everything you say.

Okay, hand me the keys.
Mommy will take care of this.

No. That is exactly why I am
not letting you take care of this.

You'd never let me live this down.

Do you really think I would
mock you for something

you have a genuine fear of?

Yes!

Oh, you know me too well.

Did you guys know susan
b. Anthony was arrested

and refused to pay the fine?

Looks like the "b" stood for boss!

How's your project going, syd?

-Huh? -You okay?
You've been a
little distracted.

Sorry.

I've just been feeling weird about

who we got assigned
for these projects.

But, it's probably nothing.

If it's bothering you,
I'm sure it's something.

Okay. It's just...

I've been thinking.
John lewis is black,

and I'm half black.

Sonia sotomayor is latina,

and emmy's half latina.

And susan b. Anthony's
white like you, olive.

It just seems odd.

But, maybe I'm overthinking it.

Yeah. I'm sure it's probably nothing.

-Right, emmy?
-Oh no, it's
definitely something.

I felt uncomfortable the second
I got assigned sonia sotomayor.

-Wait, you felt it, too?
-Yeah.

In fact, I told my
older sister about it,

and she said that what ms. A
did is called a microaggression.

What's that?

She said it's when someone says

or does something that's hurtful

because of your race or ethnicity,

but not in a way that's obvious.

Like what?

Well, sometimes people will
ask my sister where she's from.

When she says portland, they'll say,

"but where are you really from?"

like someone who looks like
us couldn't possibly be born here.

Emmy, that's terrible.

But ms. A is so cool.

You really think she would
do something like that?

That's the thing about
microaggressions.

My sister says sometimes
people don't mean to do it.

It might seem like a joke
or an innocent comment,

but something about
it makes you feel sad

in a way other stuff doesn't.

Wow, I can't believe it.

I know. My sister
never says smart stuff.

I still can't believe ms. A
would give assignments

based on the color of our skin.

Maybe it's just a coincidence.

Yeah. We don't know who
everyone else got assigned.

There's only one way to find out.

Hide in their lockers so we can
overhear their conversations?

Or we could just talk to them.

You know what? That's
just crazy enough to work.

♪ ♪

hey, coz. I can't believe a reporter

is coming to do a story
on the computer club.

Oh, is that today?

Oh, like you're not excited?

It wouldn't be happening
if it wasn't for you,

our founder and president.

You're gonna be a star.

I wouldn't say star,

but if someone wants me to cut
a ribbon at a new bowling alley,

who am I to turn it down?

Hello, computer club!

I'd like to introduce
you to mr. Ames,

the reporter from
the portland gazette.

He's a busy man,

so don't waste time
showering me with praise.

A light drizzle will do.

Hey, kids. Excited to be here.

So, why don't you tell
me about your club?

Leo webb.

Welcome to the first
school computer club

in all of portland.

Maybe even the world.

Hey, you know how we can find out?

A computer.

Listen, we might have
to move this along.

I just got a tip that a big news
story could break any minute.

I can't say much, but here's a hint.

-Escaped cheetah.
-(gasp)

please, you're scaring the children.

All good, mr. Ames.

I'm proud of this club
and what we've done.

So, how'd this all get started?

Well, we took an old storage room

and turned it into this computer lab.

We also put together a car
wash to buy these computers.

Wow. That is quite impressive.

This club has changed my life.

I'm an artist, and now
I can do a new type

of digital art called graphic design.

And I use the internet to
research my science projects.

And I didn't have anything
else to do after school.

(beeper beeping)

(gasps) this is it! The big story!

Sorry, I gotta cut this short.

Apparently, the cheetah
broke back into the zoo,

and now everybody's
trying to figure out how.

But I wanna know why.

But don't you want a quote from
our club president for the paper?

Oh, don't worry. I
got everything I need.

You're gonna love this story.

Oh, and mr. Virmani, please
send me pictures of the kids

for the article.

This is gonna be great.

-I'm so excited!
-Can't wait.

I wanna know more about the cheetah.

Okay, there's still a chance
that it's just a coincidence

that ms. A assigned us historical
figures based on our race,

so let's just find
other kids from class

and ask who they got assigned.

I'll start with the cute boys.

How about you just
find people from class?

Find, I'll go talk to roxanne.

Oh hey, ned! Can I ask
you a weird question?

Is it about my pants?

I knew they weren't working.

Do you think they're working?

Maybe I should've gone with shorts.

Do you think I could pull off shorts?

The pants are fine.

It's about the social
studies project.

I was wondering who
you were assigned.

Oh. I got barack obama.

Huh. And how do you feel about it?

Great. I mean, it'll
be an easy project.

I've already been assigned him twice.

That's a weird coincidence.

Unless you think it has
anything to do with...

The fact that barack
obama and I are both black?

Yeah, that definitely
has a lot to do with it.

Really? And you're sure?

You're not gonna,
like, do the ned thing

and overthink what you just said?

No.

Wait, I overthink stuff?

(scoffs) no, I don't.

Or do I?

Ned, doesn't it bother you

that you keep being
assigned barack obama?

I'd never really thought about it.

It's kinda just how things are.

Guess who roxanne
and callie got assigned?

Amy tan, the asian american author

who wrote the joy luck club.

I got jim thorpe, the first
native american olympian.

And it kinda feels like I only got
him 'cause I'm native american.

-(bell ringing)
-we gotta go.

Thanks, girls.

I'm so disappointed.

I can't believe ms. A did this.

-We've gotta do something.
-Like what?

I have no idea.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

I hope getting everyone from
class together was a good idea.

It's a great idea.

Dumb bird. Today's the day.

-Pack your tiny bags.
-Dad!

What's going on?

You haven't heard?

There's a pigeon in the bathroom.

But I think he finally met his match.

-(cooing) -yeah,
I'm talking
about you, bird!

Mom, what are you doing here?

I told you I don't need your help.

I'm not here to help.
I'm here to support.

And laugh. Really, really hard.

Classmates: Hey! Hey! Hey!

Hi.

Thanks for coming everybody.

This morning, when I
heard what you all said,

I didn't know what to do about it.

But then I realized knowing

I wasn't alone made me feel better.

Me, too.

Before I got sydney's
text, I didn't even know

what to call this kind of stuff.

And now I know it's
a microaggression.

Yeah. All I knew is that it
made me feel like I didn't belong.

And I usually let them go.

Like this one time, I said

I wanted to be an astronaut,

and my science teacher
joked that I wouldn't like it

because there aren't
any basketballs in space.

I mean, I don't even play basketball.

He just assumed you
did 'cause you're black?

Yep. And...

I didn't know what to
do, so I just laughed.

I get that.

People always think that just
because I'm asian american

I wanna be a doctor,

but I wanna direct romantic comedies

and have my own food truck.

That is so you.

I know, right?

I wanna be the queen of
rom-coms and nom-noms.

By the way, "rom-coms and nom-noms,"

perfect food truck name.

I know how you both feel.

Kids actually ask me if
my family sleeps in a tipi

because I'm native american.

That's like every year
when people wish me

a happy cinco de mayo.

I'm not even mexican.
I'm cuban and filipino.

I can't believe people don't
realize how hurtful this is.

You know,

once, a neighbor
asked me if I'm adopted

because my dad's white, and I'm not.

Made me feel like there was
something wrong with me.

I never knew other
people felt this way.

It's nice to know I'm not alone.

You know what else
we all have in common?

We've never said anything.

Ms. A needs to know how we feel.

We've gotta do something.

Great idea.

When are you gonna do it, syd?

Wait, what?

Yeah! Ms. A loves you.

Exactly! You're perfect for it!

Thanks, syd!

Uh... You're welcome?

Hey, max! You got a copy
of the portland gazette?

The big story on the
computer club came out today.

What happened to yours?

I went to grab it off my porch,

but the neighbor's dog got it first.

I didn't realize the
story came out today.

Here, take mine.
And when you're done,

you can finish the
crossword puzzle for me.

Actually, you can start it, too.

Leo, what's wrong? Is
the article not in there?

Oh, it's in here.

It's a picture of max.

And the caption reads,

"max reynolds,

president of the clara
barton computer club."

max reynolds,

president of the computer club?

My max reynolds? This guy?

Yeah, me?

Why would that reporter
think I was president?

I think I know. You're the
only white kid in the club.

Mr. Ames assumed I
couldn't be president

because I'm african american.

Oh, leo, that's terrible.

But why am I not surprised?
It makes me so mad.

It's okay, ms. Reynolds.

Sadly, stuff like this
happens to me all the time.

-It does?
-Yeah.

Sometimes, people assume your
parents own the arcade and not mine.

And some people act
surprised that I speak "so well."

why didn't you ever tell me?

It happened so often that I
kinda just learned to live with it.

That's awful.

Leo, I'm so sorry.

Is there anything that
we can do to help?

Thanks, ms. Reynolds,

but I think I need to talk
to mr. Virmani about this.

And I'll go, too! Virmani loves me!

Good point. I'll stay here.

♪ ♪

-hey, syd.
-Hey, dad.

Did the pigeon do that to you?

No. I whacked myself in the face

with a lacrosse
stick trying to catch it.

But I think the pigeon
got the message.

Hey, I haven't had
a chance to ask you.

What were the kids doing in the cafe?

We kinda had a meeting.

We discovered that ms. A assigned
our reports on american heroes

based on our ethnicity.

Seriously? But you always
said ms. Anderson was so cool.

I know.

That's what makes it so confusing.

So sorry you're going through this.

You know what? Someone
should talk to this teacher.

My classmates agree,

and they think I'm the
one who should do it.

But, I don't think I can.

It's scary to talk to a teacher
about something like this.

You shouldn't have to.

In fact, I am gonna go down there

and tell that teacher what's up.

-Thanks, dad.
-You're welcome.

You just helped me realize

this is something I
need to do myself.

You sure?

Yeah, dad. I got this.

Well, if doing nothing helps
you accomplish something,

then I am happy not to do it.

♪ ♪

mr. Virmani, I'm so glad you're here.

Did you see the article in the paper?

I sure did. That's why I'm here.

What an injustice.

Did your parents
say anything about it?

Are you kidding? If my mom found out,

after she got done with the reporter,

she'd end up on the front page.

I'm sorry about this, leo.

Me, too.

I wish there was
something I could do.

Well, we can. If you'd like, I
can reach out to the reporter

and have him come down here.

Thanks, mr. Virmani,
but he's a grown man.

He's not gonna wanna
listen to some kid

telling him how to do his job.

Why? Kids tell me how
to do my job all the time!

Leo, I understand your frustration.

You know, as a man of indian descent,

I have also seen my fair
share of discrimination.

-You have?
-Yes.

I was passed up for vice principal

many times in favor of white people,

even though I had more experience.

How did you fix it?

I finally had to speak up for myself.

I proved I was the
best man for the job.

It never would've happened
unless I'd fought for it.

You know what?
That's what I need to do.

I need to stand up for
myself and talk to mr. Ames.

Good! I'll call him.


You should get full credit
for all the marvelous work

you're doing here.

-Ooh! What does this button do?
-(click, beeping)

it just erased four days of coding.

Oopsie daisy!

♪ ♪

oh! Hey, syd!

You're just in time. I just
opened some hummus.

Grab a carrot.

I'm kind of not hungry.

I was wondering if I could
talk to you about something.

Of course.

Well, it's about the
hero assignments.

Some of us were wondering

why we got assigned
who we got assigned.

I put a lot of thought into it,

and I chose people
who I thought would be

the kind of inspiring role models

you'd love to learn more about.

Oh. I see.

What I guess I'm asking is...

-Um...
-syd,

is everything okay?

This is so hard.

But...

Me and the other kids
were kind of wondering if,

well, you made those assignments

based on our race.

Oh. (scoffs)

well,

I just wanted to choose people

who you could see yourselves in.

Role models who looked like you.

I guess that makes sense.

Syd, I don't want you to think

I have anything but
the best intentions.

I March. I protest.

I have always fought for
underrepresented voices.

Of course you have.

I always said you were
cool. Thanks, ms. A.

I'm just so glad we cleared this up.

Yeah.

Cleared it up.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

hey, syd. You'd be proud of me.

Finally got rid of that pigeon.

How'd you do it?

I accidentally left the door
open and the bird walked out.

Well, you showed him who's boss.

So, how'd your conversation
go with ms. Anderson?

Good.

Fine.

Okay, I guess.

Honestly, I don't know.

Okay. I'm confused.

That makes two of us.

Ms. A gave me an explanation, so...

Why don't I feel any better?

Well, what did she say?

She said she picked
heroes that looked like us.

And then she talked
about how she protests.

It all kinda made sense at the time.

Sounds like she was more concerned

with justifying her actions

than caring about how you felt.

Yeah.

And I never got to tell her why
I was so hurt by what she did.

I feel like I let down my friends.

Syd, you did your best.

Just because you didn't get
through to her on your first try

doesn't mean you can't get there.

That actually reminds
me of john lewis.

At the first March on
selma, he got beaten up.

And they didn't even
get to finish their March.

Yeah. But, he didn't give up.

And he wasn't alone. He had
a whole movement behind him.

Sometimes it takes more than
one voice to make change happen.

You're right.

Maybe me and my friends need
to get together and do something.

You know what john lewis said?

"never ever be afraid
to make some noise

"and get into good trouble.

Necessary trouble."

go make good trouble, syd.

♪ ♪

leo, don't worry.

You're gonna do
great with that reporter.

Yeah! You're right.

I'm feeling good! I'm feeling strong.

Just one little thing. I
never should've done this.

Of course you should. You got this.

I'll be right here with you.

Leo, mr. Ames is here.

Hey, leo. Good to see you.

I heard you wanted to talk to me?

I did? I do?

You know what? I do.

Mr. Ames, I read
the article you wrote,

and you said max was the
president of computer club.

Hm. I thought he was.

No. I'm the president.

Oh. You're the president?

Yes. I am.

Well, that was just
an innocent mistake.

I was chasing down another
story, and I got careless.

It was more than a mistake, mr. Ames.

You assumed that max was president

because he was the
only white kid here.

Come on, don't you
think you're overreacting?

No, I don't.

You came into a
computer club that I started

and thought that I couldn't
possibly be president

because of the color of my skin.

You took that huge
accomplishment away from me.

And I can't even begin to
tell you how much that hurts.

You're right.

That is what I did.

I made a terrible assumption,
and I was wrong to make it.

I'm really sorry.

Thank you.

And I would like for
you to put in your paper

that leo webb is the
president of computer club.

We'll print a correction.

Sorry again, leo.

Yes. You nailed it.

I'm proud of you, leo.

♪ ♪

okay, class! I am so pumped

for your iconic american
heroes presentations.

So,

who's gonna be brave
enough to go first?

Sydney! Alright.

Tell us how john lewis inspired you.

Thanks, ms. A. You're right.

John lewis did inspire me.

He inspired me not to
do my project on him.

Instead, I did my report
on supreme court justice...

Sonia sotomayor.

What?

Isn't emmy doing sonia sotomayor?

Actually, I did my
report on barack obama,

someone who I admire.

Class, what is going on here?

We decided that we
wanted to choose heroes

that we connected
with for a lot of reasons,

not just because of our race.

-So, none of you
did your assigned
projects? -Olive: Nope.

I did john lewis,

and you know what I
learned? And I quote,

"when you see
something that is not right,

"not fair, not just,

"you have to speak up.

"you have to say something.

You have to do something."

and susan b. Anthony said,

"forget what the world thinks
of you stepping out of place."

and barack obama said,

"your voice can change the world."

see, ms. A?

It's not that we weren't inspired
by the people you assigned.

It's that we didn't wanna
be seen only by our race.

'cause we are so much more than that.

Yeah.

What if I become a historian?

Just because I'm black, does
that mean I can only write about

the history of black people?

And when I'm directing movies,

can I only direct movies
about asian americans?

You know?

What I love about teaching

is that I never stop
learning from my students.

And you all

have taught me a lot today.

I had no idea how limited
I must've made you feel.

What I did was dismissive
and totally unfair.

And I apologize for that.

Thanks for hearing us, ms. A.

It means a lot.

I feel so much better.

Then that makes me feel better.

Can I get a "woo!?"

all: Woo!

I can't hear you!

All: Woo!

♪ ♪

mom, hurry up! I wanna
see the new article on leo!

Looks like that dog is
working the neighborhood.

Haha! Extra, extra!
Read all about it!

Leo webb is president of
clara barton computer club.

Oh, leo, what a handsome picture.

I was thinking the same
thing, but I didn't wanna say it.

This is awesome, leo! You did it.

Thanks, max. And
mr. Virmani was right.

The only way to change things

is to stand up for
what you believe in.

And it feels pretty good.

I just wish I had a copy
of it. I'd love to frame it.

Oh, here! You can keep this one.

My mom bought of them.

She's gonna use them
to wallpaper the kitchen.

What better way to start your day

than with pancakes and a side of leo?

♪ ♪

man: Oh yeah.
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