02x11 - The Gift

[bunniefuu]

[theme song]

♪ Maybe the world is blind

♪ Or just a little unkind

♪ Don't know

♪ Seems you can't be sure

♪ Of anything anymore

♪ Although

♪ You may be lonely and then

♪ One day you're smiling again

♪ Every time I turn around

♪ I see the girl
that turns my world around ♪

♪ Standing there

♪ Every time I turn around

♪ Her spirit's lifting me

♪ Right off the ground

♪ What's gonna be?

♪ Guess we'll just wait

♪ And see ♪

[instrumental music]

Linda: Hi, Mr. Fulton.

Mike: Oh, hi, Linda.

Linda: I'm emptying
your trash can now

and then I have to mop the hall.

You know what? Ever since
you started working here,

the school has
never been so clean.

- Really?
- Really!

I don't have to
use a mirror anymore.

I just check out
my handsome face in your...

shiny floors.

[chuckling]

This is the first job
anybody would ever give me.

My mom said
I would get fired,

but my dad said,
"Go for it, cupcake."

So I went for it.

And I'm glad you did.

I always wanted to go to regular
school like everybody else,

but they wouldn't let me
'cause... I was too dumb.

[chuckles]

Isn't that funny?

Oh, why is that funny?

The man said
I-- I wasn't smart enough

to get in regular school and...

a-- and now I go to
regular school everyday and...

and the same man
has to pay me for it.

- I'm not too dumb.
- No!

Oh. Here, Mr. Fulton.

This sticker is for you.

- For me?
- It means you're cool.

Not as cool as you, Linda.

Not nearly as cool.

[instrumental music]

- Hi, Linda.
- Hi, Punky.

I got all the way home
and realized

I left my spelling book
in my locker.

Oh, no, look! Look!

Th-- th-- this floor
is supposed to be clean.

That-- that's my job.

These little feet are not
supposed to be here.

I'm sorry, Linda.

Here, let me help you.

This floor is
supposed to be clean.

I-- I'm gonna get fired.

I'm the one that
got the mud on your floor.

If they fire anyone,
they'll fire me.

Only the law says
Ihaveto go to school,

so, they can't fire me.

[chuckles]

You're funny, Punky.

I like you.

Thanks, Linda.
I like you, too.

Most of the kids here laugh
at me and called me dummy.

They think I don't understand
them, but...

but I do.

Don't pay any attention to that.

Kids are always
calling people names.

You know what they call me?

What?

Gunky.

I'll never call you Gunky.

Thanks.

Hey, do you like stickers?

Sure, everybody does.

You wanna see my sticker book?

Yeah!

You've got the
glittery ones, too.

Here, this is for you.

It says, "Number one friend."

Thanks, Linda.

This is neat.

- See you tomorrow.
- Bye.

[instrumental music]

Punky.

[chuckles]

[instrumental music]

[sighs] Don't you think
you should stop

playing with those stickers,
and start doing your homework?

I don't have any homework.

Since when?

Since I finished it
this afternoon.

Oh! There's a smart girl.

Henry, what makes a person
smart?

Their brain.

Why doesn't everybody
have the same brain?

Because if there was
only one brain,

we'd have to
take a number to think.

No, I mean, why are some people
smarter than other people?

What "other people" you mean?

Well, like my friend Linda,
she works at school.

She's mentally Ret*rded.

Oh.

Why would God
make a person Ret*rded?

Punky, the world is made up
of all kinds of people.

Some are rich,
some are poor.

Some are tall,
some are short.

Some are smart,
and others are not.

But why? It sure doesn't
seem fair to all

the poor, dumb,
short people.

That's because
you're looking at them

as poor, dumb, short people.

You're looking at
what they don't have,

rather than what they do.

I don't get it.

You said Linda was your friend.

Tell me,
what do you like about her?

Lots of things.

She's friendly,

she works real hard,
she's pretty.

Seems like Linda has
a lot of wonderful qualities.

She does.
She's terrific.

She doesn't seem like someone
you should feel sorry for.

Even though
she's mentally Ret*rded?

Punky, you're doing it again.

You're looking at
what she doesn't have.

You shouldn't pity Linda

because she's not
as smart as you.

That's like a giraffe feeling
sorry for all the other animals

because their necks
are not as long as his.

Or like a centipede,
feeling sorry for me

'cause I don't have
a hundred legs.

[chuckles]
Exactly!

Henry, can you imagine
trying to find me

a hundred different-colored
tennis shoes?

Or worse, can you imagine
lacing them all up?

Punky, I'm very glad
Linda's your friend.

Me too.

And I think
you're right, Henry.

About what?

I can be a better friend if I
stop feeling sorry for her.

Thanks, Henry.

You must be the wisest man
in the whole world.

Really?

Really.

If I'm so wise,

why did I replant
this begonia in the same pot?

[barks]

[instrumental music]

Okay, class,
let's move to the next one.

Okay, now who can tell me
the name of this instrument?

Margaux.

Is it a clarinet?

No, but it is
a woodwind instrument.

Uh, Allen, take a guess.

A woodwind, a woodwind.

Wait, don't tell me,
don't tell me.

I got it!

It's a buffoon!

Allen, the only buffoon
in this class isyou.

He means a bassoon.

Yeah, right, of course.

I knew that all along.
It's a bassoon.

- No, it isn't.
- I didn't think so.

Thanks a lot, Margaux.

[instrumental music]

Okay. Now, Cherie...

what is the name of this
woodwind instrument

that isn't a clarinet

and isn't a bassoon?

I'll bet it isn't a trombone.

I'll bet you're right.

[all giggle]

See, this is an oboe.

Now, this last one isn't easy.

Who can tell me the name...

ofthisinstrument?

The violin.

What a dunce.

As Linda has told us,
this is a violin.

Now, class, I want you all to
listen to this violin solo.

Take out some paper.

Now, as you listen to the music,

I want you to draw
whatever comes to your mind.

You want us to draw
a picture of music?

That's right.

You see, Punky, music
is an emotional expression.

It makes us feel.

Okay, now, just close your eyes
and listen.

And draw what you feel.

["Traumerei" on tape]

Hey, guys!
Look at Linda!

Next, she's gonna
play a mop solo!

[laughter]

[music stops]

Linda!

Way to go, Allen!

Allen, you hurt
Linda's feelings.

Did not!

Can't hurt her feelings!
She's a ret*rd.

[kids laughing]

Stand up, Allen.

Come here.

Yes, Mr. Fulton?

Allen, you will never again
use the word "ret*rd"

in this classroom!

Where do you get off makin' fun
of someone's disability?

Now, would you have
laughed at Linda

if she walked on crutches?

No.

But she did look kinda
funny playing a feather duster.

[chuckles]

Allen, I'm ashamed of you.

So am I.

I'm sorry.

Mike, can I go and see
if Linda's alright?

Sure, Punky.

If you can't find her on this
floor, come right back to class.

- I will.
- Mike: Okay.

And as for you,
Mr. Anderson...

on my desk,
tomorrow morning,

I want a three-page report
on the Special Olympics.

What's that?

You have until nine o'clock
tomorrow morning to find out.

And be prepared to read
the report to the entire class.

But, Mike, I don't read
so good out loud.

Everybody will laugh at me.

No, they won't.

Thanks to you, this class
has learned a lesson

about what's funny
and what isn't.

You know what, Mike?

What?

I'm pig dirt.

[instrumental music]

[sobbing]

There you are.

Did you come
to laugh at me, too?

I never laugh at you.

I'm your number one friend,
remember?

I'm too dumb
to be anybody's friend.

I hate being dumb.

[sobbing]

Please, don't cry, Linda.

I can't help it.

Everybody saw me
playing a spray bottle.

Why do I act so stupid?

That wasn't stupid.

I play pretend all the time.

You do?

Yeah, once I pretended
to be Rapunzel.

The girl with
the real long hair?

I ran down the street with

a whole roll of toilet paper
flying from my head.

Maybe that is a little dumb.

Uh, o-- of course,
I was younger then.

But I'm grown-up.

[sobbing]

And I'm still dumb.

And I always will be.

[sobbing]

You know what, Linda?

What?

I think we should
stop thinking about the things

you don't have
and start thinking

about the things
you do have.

You do?

Yes.

What do I have?

Well, you're one
of the nicest people I know.

I am?

And you're real pretty.

I am?

You're a good worker.

I-- I am.

Matter of fact,
you're a wonderful worker.

That's right.

I'm wonderful.

Well, I'll settle for good.

But I-- I broke the rule.

The cleaning ladies
must not disturb the class.

And they'll fire me.

No, they won't fire you.

Are you sure?

Positive.

It's hard to find
good help these days.

Thanks, Punky.

You made me feel a lot better.

That's what
number one friends are for.

[instrumental music]

[organ music]

Bring it home.

Yeah! Hit me!
Alright, alright!

I love you, I love...

Oh, uh...

It was good.
[Mike chuckles]

I was just puttin' up some

musical instruments
for school tomorrow.

I'm sorry
I disturbed your class.

I broke the rule.

Don't worry about it.
I...

I'm sorry that Allen
made fun of you.

Allen's sorry, too.

I guess we're all a sorry bunch.

I bet I did look pretty funny.

Actually, you looked like you
were enjoying the music.

I love music.

You remember that song
you were playing today?

[humming "Traumerei"]

Very good.

[clapping]

It's called "Traumerei."

"Traumerei."

I know that song.

You've heard it before?

No, I never heard it, I...

I just know
how it's supposed to go.

- You do?
- Mm-hmm.

It's like the L train.

The L train?

W-- what do you mean?

Where I live, I can
hear the train from my window.

I like the sound it makes.

I can tell by the sound how many
cars are on the train and...

and I don't even have to look.

That's amazing.

Sometimes, when I hear the first
far away sound, I...

I can sort of feel what the next
part of the sound will say.

That's the way it was with that
song you were played.

I... just know
what will come next.

Really?

[sighs]

Linda, come here,
I want you to try something.

- Uh, what?
- I-- I, uh-- uh...

I just want you
to try something.

I want you to play this violin.

N-- no!

No, no, not me!

Why not?

No! No.

Okay.

I-- I can't touch it,
I could break it, I...

And then they will fire...

No...

They won't fire me.

It's hard to find
good help these days.

Mr. Fulton?

Yes?

Yes.

I would like to
hold that violin.

[instrumental music]

Go ahead.

[instrumental music]

[drowned dialog]
Okay...

[yelling]

Thank you, girls.

For showing us that
playin' music can be hard...

especially on the ears.

Let's give the girls
a round of applause.

[applause]

g*ng, it takes a lot of practice
to play an instrument well.

Most musicians are
in training all their life.

- That's just like me.
- Oh, really, Allen?

Yeah, I've been taking violin
lessons for about a year now.

Mike: Mm-hmm.

And my teacher says
I'll probably

be taking lessons
till the day I die.

I see.

Of course, uh, some people
are born with the musical gift.

Now, Mozart
could play the piano

when he was only
three years old.

But how could he
reach the piano?

Oh, they just probably slid

a few telephone books
under his pampers.

[laughter]

- Mike, I'm confused.
- About what?

That Mozart kid.

How could a three-year-old be
smart enough to play a piano?

Now, that's interesting, Punky.

You see...

music is an artistic ability.

An artistic ability
is not necessarily

connected to intelligence.

In fact, it's possible
for a person with

severe learning disability
to develop musical genius.

And when that happens,

it's called
"The Savant Syndrome."

All: Savant Syndrome?

Have you ever met any...
syndromers?

As a matter of fact,
we all have.

[murmuring]

I don't know.

And I've invited her
to class to play for us.

Come in, Linda.

[murmuring]

Linda... will you play for us?

Go ahead.

I'm afraid.

[playing "Traumerei"]

[applause]

Kid : Whoo!

[instrumental music]

[theme music]