[school bell rings]
Sister rose: These are your high school course
Selection sheets, students.
Choose wisely.
The poor decisions you make today will haunt you forever.
Adult mark (v.O.): The last week of the last year
Of junior high.
-We get to pick our own classes?
I'm doing music!
Mark: Theatre arts?
A whole class of just acting?
I love high school!
-I'm just gonna take all the burn-out classes.
Home ec, check.
Shop, check.
Gym, double check.
Sister rose: Well, isn't that too bad?
I'm sure you'll all miss each other.
-How do you mean?
-You've all been in the same class since the seventh grade,
But the high school is made up of feeder schools
From all over town.
And if you're picking different subjects, well,
You may never see each other again.
Adult mark (v.O.): We were about to be mixed up,
Like bingo balls in a tumbler.
This wasn't the start of something...
It was the end of everything!
Fox: I can't wait to get out of this hole.
-Don't count your chickens.
Your mathematics examination is tomorrow.
And study up this time, mister.
You should be in grade eleven by now.
-He's gonna pass.
-Oh, I hope so. Trust me.
I don't want either of you in my class again.
[school bell rings]
Sister rose: Mr. Critch?
A moment, please?
I'm afraid you're the class valedictorian.
-You mean... I got the best grades?
-Calm down, einstein.
You beat tina by three percent.
You're the best of a bad lot,
But you'll have to make a speech,
And you've got the gift of gab, at least.
-I'm honoured, sister.
I think I'll start off with like a little joke...
Maybe do my "what if mr. T was canadian?" bit.
Mister "eh"? Heh, spelled e-h.
From the "eh team," spelled e-h.
-You'll do no such thing. The archbishop will be there.
Just say what you've learned.
I'll be approving your every word.
-I will not be censored.
Lenny bruce went to jail for the comedian's--
-Valedictorians can't fail.
Do the speech my way and I'll push you through
No matter how badly you flunk the math exam.
-Pleasure doing business with you, sister.
♪
Adult mark (v.O.): I wracked my brain to think of something,
Anything, I had learned in school.
-Look at you, reading the paper.
-I'm just checking out the real estate ads.
Mary: Why're you looking at real estate ads?
-I...
Just wanted to see what's going on.
-Are you moving out?
Can I have your room?
-Wha... What do you wanna take his room for?
Mary: Nobody's moving out!
You work next door.
What would you wanna move out for?
-Well...
I-I was just thinking with linda and the baby and all,
I could probably use the space, right?
Adult mark (v.O.): I didn't know what I learned in school ,
But my brother never learned when to shut up.
-We don't want you wasting your hard-earned money on rent.
-You guys are okay with her staying here, then?
-God, no! We don't want a baby bawling in the house!
It's bad enough with pop!
-And where am I gonna go?
You wanna put me into a home?
-We're not gonna put you in a home.
We can't afford it.
Mike sr: Look, mike, if you do decide to move out,
I'll support ya.
Not financially, but... You know.
-Thanks, dad.
-Oof!
What?
Pop: Looks like you're gonna be the one
Looking for a place to live. [chuckles]
Sister rose: You will have 20 minutes
To finish your exam, children.
-Hey, give it.
Sister rose: I suggest you use your time wisely.
[ritche sighs]
♪
-Pass it. -No.
Fox: Pass it!
-I'll be taking that, missy.
Wouldn't want you tempted.
One last thing to confiscate
Before you walk off into obscurity.
A souvenir, if you will.
And you, move your desk up here next to mine.
Class: Oooh...
[sister rose clears throat]
♪
[clock ticking]
[dramatic music]
[music stops]
Adult mark (v.O.): It was impossible.
Fox's brother had finished ahead of everyone,
With five minutes to spare!
Sister rose: Pencils down.
Mr. Critch, kindly collect the papers.
Adult mark (v.O.): Her tutoring had paid off.
Fox's brother was...
-You didn't finish.
-I was the first finished!
Mark: You didn't do the back.
Middle fox: Nobody said to flip it over!
Fox: Nimrod!
You gotta let him finish.
-I do not.
-That's not fair!
-Life isn't fair, missy.
And besides, if it's even-steven you're after,
It wouldn't be fair to the other students
If I gave your brother extra time.
-We have to stay together, sister.
Sister rose: I'm sure you will.
There's already one of you in jail,
And I'm sure the rest are soon to follow.
-Why do you have to be so...
Mean?
-[fox sighs] -[school bell rings]
Adult mark (v.O.): Fox was right.
It wasn't fair.
And sister rose was also right...
Neither was life.
Mike sr: And in entertainment news,
Officials announced that August will see the largest concert
In newfoundland history
When we're visited by popular entertainer
Rodney stewart.
Now, here's dick dunphy with the traffic.
Gertie: Mike?
-Yeah? -Yup?
Mr. Murphy approved your request.
-Cool.
Thanks, gertie.
-What request?
-He asked to move into the basement apartment.
-Of our house?
-It's a company house.
-Exactly! -That'll do, gertie.
Why'd you go over my head like that?
-Dad, you know I need my own space.
-You do, or linda does?
-It's the same thing.
-That's so sweet.
[phone ringing in other room]
I should go check the switchboard.
Mike jr: Dad...
I'm not even really moving out.
I'm moving... Under.
-You're moving too fast.
-Dad, I need to make my own way.
I don't wanna be living with my parents for the rest of my life.
-I did!
-You said that I had your support.
-You did. You do.
Just as long as you're doing what's best for you.
-She's what's best for me.
[door opens]
Pop: So, how's the speech coming along, mr. Churchill?
-Terrible.
-Well, the cat's never got your tongue before.
-It's just, I don't know what sister rose wants me to say.
-Oh... Well...
No wonder you can't write it.
It's got to come from the heart.
Here, let me see it.
Oof, what a scribble.
Ah, here. "we come here as children..."
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...
"an education rooted in faith."
Suck-up.
"we chose to go to high school
"not because it's easy but because it's hard."
Well... [scoffs]
-Paraphrasing kennedy!
-Oh yeah? Hm.
You know, they shot kennedy.
-Pop, don't!
Hah...
Alright...
What's the first thing that comes into your head
When you think about school?
-My friends?
-Hm, and what about them?
-How I'm not gonna see them much anymore.
And how I'll miss them.
-So write a speech about that.
-Sister rose said it had to be about something I learned.
-So what?
Look, if you've learned something from your friends,
Then say that.
-The school wants me-- -the school is a factory!
You'll learn way more outside of its walls
Than you ever will inside of them.
I mean, you already have.
You're a young man now.
Far too big to be sharing a room with an old man.
-That's not true.
If I learned anything from anyone,
It was from you.
-But you don't want your own room?
I mean, isn't that a bit weird?
-Well...
I am the only kid who shares a room with his grandfather.
-Hm.
-But I wouldn't want it any other way.
Honest.
[poignant music]
♪
Night, pop.
Pop: Ah, goodnight.
[groans]
Ah, lord, I need to pee.
[guitar playing]
♪ I study nuclear science ♪
♪ I love my classes ♪
♪ I got a crazy teacher ♪
♪ he wears dark glasses ♪
♪ things are going great ♪
♪ and they're only getting better ♪
♪ I'm doing alright ♪
♪ getting good grades ♪
♪ the future's so bright ♪
♪ I gotta wear shades... ♪
♪ I gotta wear shades! ♪
♪ shades, shades, shades! Shades, shades! ♪
Welcome to the class of '89 spiritual retreat!
Okay, who's got a dream that they're gonna make come true?
Mark: I wanna be a comedian!
Father garcia: Okay, cool.
Uh...
Not the most realistic, though, right?
Advertising is a good career. Okay?
Who else has a dream?
-I wanna be a musician!
-I hear "music teacher"! Huh?
Fox, how about you?
-I don't care.
Father garcia: No dreams?
No regrets! I love it. Yes!
Very cool.
Alright, let's break into groups.
Trust exercises!
You're all gonna bond so hard right now!
This is gonna be great!
Now, you're gonna take turns falling back
Into each other's arms.
Just give into it.
-You trust me?
-Not at all.
-Don't worry. I got ya!
Father garcia: And... Fall!
-[thud] -[middle fox laughs]
-You said that I could trust you!
-You can't trust someone just 'cause they say you can, idiot.
-He's not wrong. Are you okay?
-I'm fine, I-- -you gave him a concussion!
I better take him to the fountain to get some water.
-No, I-I-- -hope he doesn't sue!
Come on.
-I guess I should sit down.
-Suck it up, wuss. I got somewhere to be.
Mary: Mike!
You shouldn't have her carrying stuff!
-The doctor said moving around would make it come faster.
-You don't want it coming until you got somewhere to put it.
-And you can bring the baby here whenever you want.
Linda: Mrs. Critch?
What was it like when mike came?
-Oh, I called mike's father at the station,
And he said he couldn't come because he was on the air, so...
He sent dick to drive me to the hospital.
-Dick dunphy? -It was a different time.
-Well, you know what?
I'm gonna be there.
-Aw.
-Oh...
Ow... Ow...
-Linda...?
Linda: Oh, no. Nooo!
-Mike, run up and get my keys.
-Linda, is it--? Is it--?
-Ahhhh! Don't let dick dunphy take me!
Mary: Sweet frig!
-[sighs]
[chuckles]
Ah...
Half done.
Half wit!
[sighs]
[chuckles]
Ah, what the hell?
Pass. [chuckles]
Mark: This place looks kinda pretty at night.
-Go! Go, go, go, go, go!
Hurry, quick!
[door creaks open]
[door closes]
[locks door]
[keys jingling]
Adult mark (v.O.): If I hadn't been a coward,
I could have kissed her.
We always remember the chances we didn't take.
-Okay, come on.
-Fox, just...
There's something I wanna do before we blow this pop stand.
-Where'd you get those? -They're the priest's.
Took 'em off him when you were
Bouncing your head off the floor.
-[door unlocks] -[giggles]
-You're gonna get us expelled.
[linda groaning]
Mary: Just breathe.
-I'm scared.
-Hey, hey, it's okay! You're doing great!
You're doing just great!
-Hang on a minute.
Are you family?
-Yes.
[linda groaning in background]
-Go on.
[key jingling]
-Don't do that! -I need to get something.
-What could you possibly want in there?
-Three years' worth of stuff she confiscated.
-You can't take that!
-She took it from me.
It's mine.
And this is ritche's. It's not fair that she took it.
-Can we please go now?
Gonna tell that old bat exactly what I think of her.
-I think I'm gonna pass out.
-There's one more place I wanna go.
[upbeat, mischievous music]
-Oh my god.
♪
-She's perfect.
Just like you.
[baby coos]
[knock at door]
-Hey.
-What do you want?
-Can I help you?
-I'm jeff.
I'm the...
Uh...
-Father.
-Oh, I see.
Nurse: So, who are you?
-I'm just the boyfriend.
-Out! Family only.
-I think it's up to linda who that is.
-It's okay.
-[quietly] yeah.
Linda: You can come over.
-He's got no right.
-He has every right.
-It's not up to you.
-It's not up to you, either.
It's up to linda.
-How could she let him in there?
He doesn't get to just walk back now and...
One day you are gonna be a wonderful father.
And maybe that's today, maybe not.
But whenever that day comes,
And whoever that child is,
Is gonna be the luckiest kid in the world, hm?
Aw...
[emotional music]
Mark: Oh...
We're not supposed to be up here!
-Which is exactly why we should be up here!
-[turns on radio] -[chuckles]
-Someone's gonna hear that.
-Mark, chill out!
No-one else is here.
Helllloooo!
-Stop!
You try.
-No way.
-Do it.
Mark: Helllloooo!
-You're gonna be up there tomorrow.
Figure out what you're gonna say yet?
-No.
-You'll figure something out.
You always do.
[rod stewart's "forever young" playing on radio]
-Not like you, though.
Watching how you held everything together with your mom
And your brother, it's...
It's really something.
-[sighs]
At least someone noticed. [sighs]
I can't believe it's almost over.
-We still got high school.
It's just beginning, fox.
-Call me jennifer.
♪ forever young... ♪
-So...
What... Was it that you wanted to do up here
That was so important, anyway?
-This.
♪ for... ♪
♪ forever young... ♪
♪
Adult mark (v.O.): The most important thing I learned
At st. Bridget's was a lesson in love.
♪ forever young... ♪
Suzanne: Look! Oh, I'm so proud of ya!
Both of ye.
Fox: Thanks.
Adult mark (v.O.): Show time.
I knew what sister rose wanted me to say,
But I still didn't know what I wanted to say.
I was about to give a speech and I was speechless.
-And now, to bring greetings from the class of 1989,
Valedictorian mark critch.
[applause]
Mark: Archbishop, bishop, father, sisters,
Parents, teachers, and pupils.
We did it.
We all did it.
We learned a lot at st. Bridget's.
But the most important things we didn't learn in class.
They didn't come from books or teachers.
They came from our families.
And our friends.
Everyone in this room taught me something.
Like how to be different.
To be yourself.
Or to never back down, and not let anyone put you in a box.
That it's okay to sometimes bend the rules a little.
Or even to break them.
And to stand by the people you love,
Because they'd stand by you.
And if someone's a bully,
It's probably because they're more scared than you are,
So don't judge a book by its cover,
Or a nun by her habit.
[laughter]
-Sorry, sister.
There wasn't a day that went by these last three years
That I didn't wish
That I could leave this place and never come back.
But now the time to leave has come,
I kinda wish we could start all over.
But we can't, so...
Thank you to my teachers.
To all of us.
I don't know what's next, but I do know,
Whatever it is,
Because of you,
I'm ready for it.
Thank you.
[applause]
-Woo!
[applause and cheering]
Adult mark (v.O.): Looking back,
It all seemed to go by in a flash.
But back then, it seemed to take forever.
I guess because you never really stop growing up.
And even though we know they're for the best,
Those growing pains never really stop hurting.
But keep growing, and one day you might even be mature enough
To start seeing the world like a child again.
-"dear sister rose...
"frig off, you evil old..."
Fox! [voice echoes]
♪ and we will always be... ♪
Adult mark (v.O.): The last day of junior high
Was the best.
♪ home. ♪
♪