[Melody] Hi, my name is Melody Brooks.
And for the price of a smoothie, you can save a child like me with cerebral palsy.
No, I'm just kidding.
I don't want your money, and I don't want your pity either.
Go ahead and stare.
It's 2002.
You've never seen a girl in a wheelchair who doesn't talk before?
It's not like I have nothing to say.
Oh, believe me, I have so much to say, but my tongue won't cooperate.
[inhales sharply] I know what you're thinking.
I sound pretty grown-up for a 12-year-old, right?
I told you I can't talk.
So I don't have a voice.
This will all go a lot better if you just listen.
-Obviously, this isn't my voice. -[chattering on TV]
I have no idea what my voice would sound like.
So I can sound like whoever I want.
[mom] Honey! Come on, please.
Well, I have to say, that earns "tutu" pieces of candy.
-[mom] Great. Okay. Now brush your teeth. -I love you.
[Melody] And I love Jennifer Aniston.
So, of course I picked her voice.
And I'm just borrowing it.
It's not like I stole it.
Sharing is caring.
[mom] Did they take our insurance?
[dad] I was on hold for, like, two hours, and then they hung up.
[mom] That's so annoying.
You know what? Mr. Grossman canceled his hygiene appointment today,
so I'll just try them then.
[Melody] This is Ollie.
I wanted a dog, but my parents said it's too much work.
Here, boy. Here, boy. Ollie. [kissing]
Come on. Heel!
-[mom] Come on. Penny, get dressed. -[Melody] Heel!
See? He's getting pretty good.
-[children] Trick or treat! -Just a minute!
[mom] Penny, come here. Come on. You gotta put this on, okay?
[Penny] But I'm bored.
-[mom] You can be bored as a farmer. -[dad] School day.
-[mom] Oh, yes. -[Melody groans]
Why can't he just leave the TV on?
[mom] …appointment that my daughter, Melody, has
with Dr. Spencer for three o'clock.
-[Penny mumbling] -[dad] Here you go, sweet girl.
[Melody] I love to make lists.
Here is a list of things I'll never get used to:
butts in my face because people don't see me,
staircases…
[dad] Ollie.
-…people who say hi but sound so sad… -[whispers, indistinct]
[Melody] …how JLo's hair always looks perfect…
[mom] The school's getting a new playground.
-[dad] That's a good thing, right? -[mom] I can't believe…
[Melody] …early mornings,
the feeling of POP ROCKS in my mouth…
[mom] There's not one accessible swing.
[dad] Maybe it's not the final…
[Melody] …that dessert is not considered a complete meal.
[mom] Penny, we gotta go. Let's do this.
[dad] Please remember this is about Melody, okay?
-[mom sighs] -[dad] Just don't make this about you.
-[mom] Penny. Penny. -[Penny giggles]
-[mom] You have to come. We're late. -[dad] That's not you?
-[mom] Come on. -[dad] Out, out. Come on.
[sighs] Penny.
[mom] Penny, come on. You're gonna have to put these on in the car. Okay.
[sighs] Okay.
[straining] I love--
[mom] I love you too, kitten.
Um, all right. We don't-- Don't do that now.
-[dad] Huh? -Come on. Can you help me carry this out?
And just put it in the car.
Love you, ladybug.
-[Penny] Coming back again. -[mom sighs]
[Melody groans]
Five minutes. That's it.
-Wow. You are a very funny clown. -[dad] We have to go.
We already missed the bus today.
-Thank you. -And you… are so in style right now.
[dad] Penny!
Hop in, hop in, hop in.
[chattering on TV]
[dad] What are you doing?
[Ollie thuds]
[gasps, straining] Dad!
Dad! Dad!
[panting]
[exclaiming]
Dad!
[screams]
[panting]
[exclaiming]
[gasps]
[pants]
[exclaims]
[screaming]
[door opens]
Melody, what is it?
Are you okay? Let me see.
Oh, Melody, what happened?
Oh, Ollie, Ollie, Ollie, Ollie.
Come on. Oh.
[groans] You've gotta be more careful with your tray. You're gonna knock into--
-This is a mess. -[gasps]
-[dad groans] -[groaning]
[dad] Oh, you're making us so late.
-Look at this. There's water everywhere. -[groaning]
Stop, stop. Just stop.
I don't wanna hear it.
All right?
[groans] Geez.
[groans]
[sighs]
I'm sorry I yelled.
It wasn't fair.
I lost it. I'm sorry, Melody.
That's not on you, okay?
[Melody] Now he wants to talk?
[dad] I should have put Ollie's bowl on a higher shelf.
[Melody] It's too late.
Sweet girl, are you listening? I said, "I'm sorry."
Melody.
Please don't-- [sighs]
[neighbor] Yoo-hoo!
-[dad whispers] Oh, Mrs. V. -Yoo-hoo!
Uh-oh, here comes trouble!
-Hi, Mrs. V. -[Mrs. V] Hiya, Melody.
Have I got a present for you, girl.
[dad] We're running a little late. We're late for school.
Don't let me hold you up. But let me tell you what I found.
Boxes of old dresses, hats, feather boa.
Perfect for Halloween. When you wanna pick 'em up?
-Well, we'll be back later, so… -Oh, okay.
-Well, go, go. -[classical music playing]
-[laughs] What are you waiting for? -["Dreams" playing]
-Have a nice day at school, Melody. -[dad] Thank you, Mrs. V.
-Okay, watch yourself. -[Mrs. V] Okay.
-[dad] All right. -[Mrs. V] I'm good.
Pretty pumpkin for a pretty girl.
[song continues]
♪ Oh, my life ♪
Bye, Melody!
[dad] All right. Away we go.
♪ Every possible way ♪
♪ And, oh, my dreams ♪
♪ It's never quite as it seems ♪
♪ Never quite as it seems ♪
[strains]
[dad] Let's go.
♪ Now I'm feeling it even more ♪
Come on.
[Melody] This is my school.
No, no, no. No, not that way.
We're in the trailer over here.
[dad] Let's go. Let's go.
♪ Then I open up and see ♪
♪ The person falling here is me ♪
[Mrs. Billups] In the alphabet--
Hey. I'm sorry. Hi, everybody.
[Mrs. Billups] Hi, Melody. Good morning.
-We haven't started, so-- -[dad] Yeah. Sorry.
-Hi, Sue. Sorry. -Hi, Melody.
We missed the bus again. Hi, everyone.
-[assistant] Good morning, Melody. -Okay, bye. Miss you too.
[Mrs. Billups] All right. One, two, three. Eyes on me.
Carl, maybe you can zoom zoom this way.
-And Willy. -[Willy] Yep.
[student speaks indistinctly]
[Melody] This is H4-6.
It's been my classroom since kindergarten.
I've had the same teacher for seven years.
I'm like Lisa Simpson.
[student] Here.
-[Melody] And this is Maria. -Here.
We've known each other forever.
-[Mrs. Billups] Everybody ready? -[Willy] Everybody is ready!
What does the alphabet start with?
Melody, do you want to continue watching?
[Mrs. Billups] And let's all sing a nice big, big, proud belt.
Or do you want to continue listening to your book?
Yeah? Okay.
[Mrs. Billups, singsongy] A!
[students, singsongy] A.
[Mrs. Billups] Oh, you have more in you than that.
One, two, three.
-[students screaming] -[Mrs. Billups, singsongy] A!
[laughs] Whoo-hoo!
-[student 1] Wow! -[student 2 screams]
[Mrs. Billups] Very good.
And what is A in sign, you guys?
[student 3] …E, F, G…
[students chattering]
[Mrs. Billups] Well, if it's there. But-- [laughing]
All right. So, you guys--
[student] Jodie!
[voice on recording] Are you there, God?
It's me, Margaret.
I can't wait until two o'clock, God.
That's when our dance starts.
[Melody] Things I want…
[audiobook continues]
[Melody] …cool clothes,
bigger boobs,
my period,
a boy to like me,
to be able to put on mascara without poking my eye out.
There are a lot of things that I want.
-[whispers] Can I take these off? -[coos]
-[Mrs. Billups] So, A, B, C… -There we go.
-Hi. -[Melody coos]
I'm Katherine. Nice to meet you.
[coos]
Oh. What you reading?
-Can I see? -[Melody coos]
[Katherine] Oh, my goodness.
I love this book.
-[chuckles] Have you read it before? -[coos]
-Looking up means "yes"? -[coos]
Got it.
Ooh. This is a good one.
You know, my favorite part is when Margaret and Janie go to buy pads…
[chuckles] …but then they see the boy at the register, and they run away.
[laughs]
What's yours?
[Mrs. Billups] A, B, C, D, E-- Oh, uh, let's go back to A.
And try down a little lower.
So, A, right?
-[assistant] So you've been listening? -[Mrs. Billups] Do this.
Wanna put one on?
Are we being helpful?
[Katherine] The party?
-[chuckles] -[Katherine laughs]
Norman's birthday party.
-[laughs] -[laughing] Okay.
Why do you think Margaret lies about Philip's kiss at the party?
-Because she was trying to be cool. -[chuckles]
[Katherine] Yes, she was.
Yes, she was.
Mm-hmm. Awesome.
[Mrs. Billups] Melody is a joy to have in class.
She is a very sweet girl.
My summary is on page ten, but in short, she meets or exceeds all my expectations.
Thank you. That was wonderful, Mrs. Billups.
Now, here we have the individualized education plan goals that we devised.
-If everyone takes a look at page ten. -[Katherine] Thank you.
I'm sorry, I have a question.
-That's why we're here… -[dad] Right.
…uh, Mr. Brooks. [clears throat]
If Melody exceeds your expectations, why don't you raise your expectations?
[Mrs. Billups] Oh, Chuck.
Melody does very well for her abilities.
She listens.
-She has the classroom routines down pat. -Right.
-Has she complained? -Never.
She adores Mrs. Billups.
It's just she-- she shows a great capacity for curiosity.
You know, at home, she watches a lot of documentaries.
She-- She loves her telescope.
Uh, we go to museums.
I'm sure Melody enjoys her time together with you.
But it's-- it's more than that, Mrs. Antenucci.
It's that--
[sighs]
She loves to learn.
We see it in her eyes.
So I just-- I-I'm wondering if--
[teacher] Mr. Brooks, we design IEPs based on standardized assessments,
not on the looks in children's eyes.
Uh, what Mrs. Gardner means--
It-It-- It's hard to be objective about your own daughter's limitations.
-Yes? -[Chuck] Yeah.
Okay. Um, why don't we resume and take a look again at the-the--
Uh, of-of course…
You know, the assessments only tell us how likely she is to succeed.
Not if she will or why she may not.
Mr. Brooks, I am working on a program that is a part of--
This is, uh, Ms. Ray.
She's a student from the university.
A postdoctoral fellow.
Uh, she's here today to observe.
Yes, I just-- I just really think that Melody might benefit from--
I'm so sorry I'm late. Sorry. So sorry.
I got caught up with my little one in kindergarten.
-Hi. I'm Diane. -Hi. Dr. Ray.
-Thank you for being on the team. -[Katherine] Thanks.
-[Mrs. Antenucci] Uh, well… -Babe.
[Mrs. Antenucci] …she's actually a student from the university, but---
Okay. I, um, think we're gonna need to get into that. [laughs]
Um, how is our girl?
["In the Hall of the Mountain King" playing]
[Penny] You got a two.
[Diane hums]
-[Penny] One. Two. -[doorbell rings]
-Chuck, can you get that? -Yeah.
[Penny] Uh-oh.
-[laughs] -[Melody laughs]
-Maybe we have a trick-or-treater. -[Chuck laughing]
What's the scoop, girls? How do I look?
-[Melody laughs] -Scoop rhymes with poop.
I mean, yeah. She's not wrong.
[Diane] You look good, Daddy.
-[Chuck] Thank you. [laughing] -I don't think Einstein wore a lab coat.
Happy Halloween!
-Oh. -[Katherine] Mr. Brooks.
-Hello. -Hi.
-I'm sorry. -[Katherine] Um, you're fine.
-[Melody grunts] -Katherine Ray.
[Chuck] Right. Yeah, of course. How you doing?
Doing good. Uh, we never got a chance to really talk.
[Chuck] Diane, do you wanna come out here?
-[Diane] Yeah. -[Penny] Poop, poop, poop.
[groans]
[Penny] What? It's fun to say.
-[Chuck] Do you know who I am? -I do. I do.
-[Chuck] You remember Katherine? -[Diane] Of course. From the IEP meeting.
-[Chuck] Diane. -Nice to see you again.
You too. What's up?
-I wanted to talk to you about Melody… -[Penny] Uh-oh.
-…and the program I'm doing. -[Melody grunts]
[Diane] Okay.
I would love to start taking Melody out of her class
and integrate her into the regular classrooms.
So you wanna take Melody out of special ed?
Yes. One afternoon a week.
And not anything super extraordinary.
It would just be for sixth grade.
It took us so long t-to get Melody
to a place where she's valued, respected and safe.
[Diane continues, muffled]
I mean, you're young, you don't have kids. I mean, it's just that--
And I-I don't think we're about to put that at risk for your project.
This might be an opportunity for her to prove herself, Diane.
Prove herself for what?
-Calm down. -I mean, prove what? I'm not--
[muffled] I-I don't-- I just don't feel good about, uh…
[Penny mumbling]
[Katherine] If you don't mind, I'm gonna give you a little bit of paperwork.
Just to ease your mind, Willy's parents already signed off,
and I would be in the classroom with her at all times.
[Diane] I don't know.
[Katherine] I only want the best for Melody.
-[Diane] Thank you for stopping by. -[Penny] One. Two…
[Chuck] Thank you very much. Happy Halloween.
[Katherine] Happy Halloween.
[Diane sighs]
[vocalizes]
Oh, it was, um--
-Don't worry about it. Don't you worry. -[Melody groans]
[vocalizes]
[sighs]
All right, let's go. Who's ready?
-Time to trick-or-treat. Huh? -[Penny giggling]
-[Diane] Let's do it. -[Chuck] You ready? Let's go.
[Diane] These cookies are as frosted as they're ever gonna be.
[Chuck] Come on. [growls]
[trick-or-treaters] Ten, nine…
[Melody] I love Halloween.
…seven, six, five…
[Melody] It's the one time people stare at me for the right reasons.
…two, one!
Blast off!
[all cheering]
["Where Do I Belong" playing]
♪ Drifting out like a satellite ♪
Are you sure she doesn't need help?
[Melody] Nope, she's got it.
Good. You did a very good job.
[Melody] She pats me like a dog like that every year.
One of these days, I'm just gonna bite her.
[partygoers chattering]
[chattering, laughing]
♪ Yeah, I feel ♪
♪ Where do I belong? ♪
[Maria] Hi, Melody. Wanna do a race?
[Melody] Things I love…
-[Maria's mom] What'd she say, honey? -She said yes.
[Melody] …the sounds my wheelchair makes when I go super fast,
-sparkly dresses… -[Maria's mom] I'll be right here.
[Melody] …having the coolest Halloween costume every year,
palindromes,
daddy longlegs spiders because I read they're friendly…
Come get me, Mom!
-[Melody] …my family… -[Chuck] Go, Melody!
[Melody] …and, of course, outer space.
[Maria's mom] Maria!
[Maria mumbles, laughing]
[Maria] Melody!
[cheers] Catch me!
[Mrs. V gasps]
Oh, girls. Look at this!
Huh?
-Uh, well, I think Melody claimed that. -[Penny] I want that one.
-But, uh… -[Penny] I like it.
…Penny, I did promise you a boa.
[Diane] Hello! I'm home.
-[Mrs. V gasps] Oh, hi. Hi. -[Diane] What's all this?
[Penny] Mommy, look! I got a boa.
-[Diane] Yes, you did. -[Mrs. V] Take it upstairs
-and put on your sparkle shoes. -Good day?
-Okay? -Sparkly shoes!
I just-- I was expecting you to pick these up before Halloween.
Oh.
But I-- I figured you just got busy, and so here I am.
-[Chuck] Yeah, here she is. -[Diane] Yeah.
[Mrs. V] Yeah. See, it's fine.
You know, the girls can play dress-up anytime.
-Besides, it was starting to gather dust. -Hey, baby.
I'm gonna go put this in your room.
[mumbles]
[Diane] Pasta?
-[Chuck] What do you think? -[Diane] Yeah.
[Chuck] I was looking at the paperwork Katherine brought about the program.
[Diane] I-- Yeah, I-- I told you it's too risky.
-Ooh. Are these cookies? -[Diane] Yes.
-Halloween. -[Chuck] Oh, yeah. Help yourself.
-Those are from yesterday. -[Mrs. V] Oh, thank you.
Is this from Melody's school?
Mmm. This is a great idea.
A regular sixth-grade class?
-Mel, you're gonna love this. -[Chuck] We haven't discussed that yet.
-We have discussed it. -[Mrs. V] You're gonna learn history…
[Diane] And I don't think it's something that we're leaning towards.
…math, social studies.
-[Melody chuckles] -[Mrs. V] All alongside your peers.
Oh, my God. This is so great.
-[Diane] That's a parental decision. -[Mrs. V] Yes! "Want"!
I know you want. Of course you want.
I would want this too. This is fantastic.
[Diane] Vi, it's a parental decision.
-[Chuck] Sure. -[Melody vocalizing]
[Diane] We have not-- Back me up.
-Sure. -Okay, okay, okay.
-It's still on the table. -Okay. Ooh. I guess I-- I should go.
I should go.
[Diane] Thank you for those beautiful dresses.
-[Mrs. V] Mm-hmm. -Why did you make me the bad guy?
[Chuck] How am I making you the bad guy?
-No, how am I doing that? -[stammers] Well, we talked about it.
Parents think their kids need to be protected.
That's all.
[grunts] "F-A-I-R."
Unfair.
Right. Unfair.
So, what are you gonna do about it? Hmm?
-Hmm. -Listen. Hey.
[sighs]
You're gonna have people taking care of you the rest of your life.
At some point, you better learn just because someone wipes your ass
doesn't mean you have to kiss theirs.
Okay?
Okay, you got it.
[Diane] It's not hidden. She knows about it.
-Are you serious? -[Chuck] No.
[Chuck, Diane whispering]
[door closes]
[Melody] Things I hate:
French braids,
sweatpants,
shoelaces,
-sauerkraut… -[door opens]
[Chuck] Good morning.
[Melody] …opera…
[Chuck] How you doing?
[Melody] …classrooms in trailers…
Beautiful day.
[Melody] …being ignored.
[sighs] You have a good snooze?
-Hey, let's go. -[Melody] Mmm.
Mmm.
[Chuck] Come on. Let's go.
-[Chuck] Look, we gotta get up now. -[grunts]
[Chuck] Come on, come on.
You got school today. Come on.
-Melody. -[groans]
-Please. -[groaning]
[Chuck] Melody, I need you to not do this. Not today, baby.
Please help me here. [sighs]
All right, fine. But I-- I get five minutes too.
-[exhales sharply] -[Melody groans]
-[Chuck imitates snoring] -[chuckles]
-Huh? -[groans]
-You up now? -[groans]
Decided my snoring wake you up?
-[Melody groaning] -[Chuck sighs]
Don't fight me, please.
All right. There you go.
-All right. Okay? -[groans] No.
-Hey. -[whimpers]
-Come on. -[groans]
[Melody] Mm-mmm.
[Diane] Okay. Now it's a hunger strike.
Come on, Mel. [sighs]
[Chuck] Well, maybe we should give this sixth-grade-classroom thing a chance.
[Diane scoffs]
Who's gonna turn the pages of her book?
Who's gonna take her to the bathroom?
[Chuck] I don't know, but at least she'll get an education.
[Diane] Yeah.
You've not fought these people like I have.
Next thing, they're gonna be shoving 'em all into mainstream classrooms.
[Chuck] Well, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing.
[Diane] Oh, maybe they can just do away with special ed entirely
and spend the money on football jerseys.
"Oh, we don't need specialized teachers."
-It just-- It doesn't feel right. -[Diane sighs]
Fine.
Fine. Sign her up.
And when she comes home crying because they shove her in the back
and no one pays any attention to her except the bullies, you clean it up.
[groans]
I don't know about you…
but this, uh, Mr. Dimming…
["Blows By" playing]
He's gonna be pretty lucky to have you in his class.
♪ They're all fast cars ♪
♪ Take our fast hearts away ♪
[Melody chuckles]
♪ No time for stopping now ♪
♪ No time ♪
♪ I want to live now ♪
♪ I want to have those silent times ♪
♪ I want to be unsure ♪
♪ Unaware of time gone by ♪
♪ I need to give now ♪
♪ Let my hands and my mind ♪
♪ Grab on to the dusty air ♪
♪ Before it all blows by ♪
[singer vocalizing]
[indistinct]
♪ Before it all blows by ♪
[no audible dialogue]
♪ Before it all blows by ♪
[Mr. Dimming, indistinct]
They don't know what to expect.
They didn't even know if the world was flat or not.
They might fly off the end of the planet.
They didn't know.
This is why we're here.
Why do we study the past?
Why?
Why do we study the past? Rose.
To prepare for the future.
[Mr. Dimming] Why do we study the past, Rodney?
To prepare for the future, Mr. D.
I assume that everyone did their reading last night?
-[students murmuring] -Oh, that didn't sound good.
-[student] No. -All right. Pop quiz.
-[students groaning] -[knock on door]
-[Mr. Dimming] Saved by the bell. -[Katherine] Hi.
-[Mr. Dimming] Hi. -[Katherine] Come on in.
[Willy] Hi. How are you?
You must be our-- our visitors from, uh, H4-6.
-[Willy] Yes, we are. -[Katherine] Yes, we are.
Hi, I'm Katherine.
-Nice to meet you. -Hey. Wallace Dimming.
Um, who do we have here?
[Katherine] Oh, this is Willy.
-And this is-- -[Willy] And this-- this is Melody.
[Mr. Dimming] Okay. Well, there's, uh, some room in the back.
Someone's absent today, so there's an empty desk.
We're gonna sit in the middle. So we can see you.
-[Willy] Hi. -Okay.
Can you guys just scoot your chairs to the side? Thank you.
Come on back. Come on back. Don't be afraid, Melody.
[Willy] Hello.
Hi.
-[Katherine] All right. -[Willy] I am ready as rain.
And can you ladies scoot to the side, so she can squeeze in?
Perfect. See, Melody? Perfect fit.
Willy, let's leave the lady alone.
Thank you.
Sit next to me.
All righty.
Can you squeeze in? Yep.
[Mr. Dimming] I didn't forget about our quiz, okay?
[claps] So listen up.
First question's worth, oh, why don't we say 1,000 points.
A thousand points?
[Mr. Dimming] According to your textbooks,
who was the first European to "discover" America?
Oh, that's easy. Come on.
[Mr. Dimming] Mmm.
-Jodie. -Christopher Columbus.
[imitates buzzer sound] Wrong. Sorry.
Not Christopher Columbus.
Anyone else?
Rodney, I thought this was an easy one.
I just thought why don't you give someone else a chance, Mr. D.
[students laugh]
Uh. [clears throat]
Yes, in the back.
Uh, I believe it's Melody?
[Katherine] Leif Erikson.
[chuckles] Nice.
Um, Mr. Dimming, she didn't actually say anything.
[Mr. Dimming] Thank you, Claire.
Um, yes, that's correct, Melody.
So you get the follow-up bonus question.
Where was Leif Erikson from?
[student snickers]
[Katherine] "I-C-E"--
[Willy] Boring, boring.
[Katherine] Wi-- Willy, shh.
[students snickering]
-[Katherine] Okay. "L"… -[whispers, indistinct]
-[Jodie] That's so mean. -[Katherine] "…A-N-D."
Perfect.
Iceland. He was-- He was sailing from Iceland.
Don't worry about it.
[Mr. Dimming] In the Dutch East India Company,
there's a crazy story about what happens when Henry Hudson's crew mutinies on him.
-So, do the reading tonight… -[bell rings]
…and you can participate in the discussion tomorrow.
-[students chattering] -That's class.
-Have a great rest of your day. -What do you think of sixth grade?
It-- It just feels smelly.
Oh, it f-- Okay. Thank you for that.
[Mr. Dimming] Um, Ms. Ray. A word, please?
Oh.
You should go make some friends.
Yes, ma'am. If you can raise your hand in class, you can make a couple friends.
[mouthing words]
-[Claire] Rose, are you coming? -[Katherine] Willy.
[Claire] Did you do the math?
[Jodie] Uh, I did the math, but, like…
[Claire] Okay, so my mom is gonna drive us. So just hurry up.
[clears throat] I was assured that this would not be a disruption.
[Katherine] It won't.
Presume competence, and I promise you're gonna be very impressed.
Hi.
[Katherine] Willy, why don't you come over here?
"Shoes." Sorry, I--
[Melody] Uh.
Oh, thanks. Your shoes are, uh…
-They're nice too. -[chuckles]
-[chuckles, grunts] -[Rose chuckles]
So you two are gonna be in our class every week?
Mmm.
-Hey, Rose. -Cool.
-Are you coming? -Yeah.
-[Claire] Let's go. -I'll see you next time.
-[Claire] Run, run, run. -[Jodie] Let's go. Let's go.
-Run. She's gonna literally kill me. Go. -[Rose] Sorry.
[Katherine] Melody, you ready to go?
[Melody] Things I never did before today:
Be in a class that was all sixth graders. Check.
[Diane] What was that?
[Melody] Answer the teacher's question when no one else knew. Check.
-What? -[Melody giggles]
[Diane gasps]
How dare you? [chuckles]
[Melody] Talk to Rose. Check, check, check.
Take a bath by myself.
[sighs] Someday, maybe.
-Wouldn't that be nice? -Here.
-But my mom loves this. -You okay?
So I throw her a bone every now and then.
[Diane] Well, truce.
-Time out. Time out. Time out. -[Melody chuckles]
Um, I keep forgetting.
There is an exhibit at the university on interstellar objects.
-Do you wanna go? -[grunts]
Yeah? No? Maybe so?
Friend? Yeah, you can bring a friend.
You want me to call Maria's mom?
Who's Rose?
-How about this? -[Melody] No.
-[groans] That's hideous. -Melody, you just have to pick something.
-[Melody groans] -[Chuck] Penny.
Your friend's gonna be here in a minute.
[groaning]
This?
[Melody] Oh, my God.
[Diane] Over. What?
[Chuck] Penny, come on.
-Tights? -[Melody] Yes. Finally.
Yes? No, we're not wearing tights. They're impractical.
We're gonna be getting in and out of cars and using the restrooms.
-The public restrooms. -[groans]
-[Melody] Then pick something good. -I got it.
-[Melody] A skirt. -Put it on.
-We gotta get ready. -[groans]
What? It's a shirt and pants.
[doorbell rings]
[narrator on TV] The humpback whale was given its name
because of the shape of the hump on its dorsal.
-Hi, Mrs. Brooks. I'm Rose Spencer. -[Diane] Hi.
Um, I parked my bike at the end of your ramp.
Is that okay?
Yeah. Um, welcome.
Come in.
Uh, Melody, your, um--
Rose is here.
-Hi. -Hi.
[narrator] Each whale has its own unique pattern on the underside…
Oh, why don't you turn off the TV, kitten?
-Um, so you're in, um… -[TV volume increases]
[narrator] …for identifying individual whales.
-…Mr. Dimming's class? -Yes.
-How's that? -Hi.
-What toy do you wanna be? -[Rose] Ooh, wow.
[Chuck] Hey, you must be Rose.
-[Rose] Yeah. -[Chuck] Hi, nice to meet you.
-Ooh, what's this? -[Penny] Daddy, we're playing.
[Rose] The red fire truck has a ladder. That's cool.
To save cats in trees?
[Chuck] Penny, that can't be what you're wearing.
-No, no, no! Get back here. [grunts] -[Penny giggles]
[Chuck] All right. We have liftoff in T-minus two minutes.
-[imitating rocket] -[vocalizes]
Ah. Oh.
[vocalizes]
You good?
Yeah.
-[Chuck] Penny. -Cool.
Uh, we're gonna go soon?
-Yeah. -[Rose] I heard it's a lot of fun there.
[coos]
So, Rose, we're-- You know, we're happy that you decided to join us.
[Rose imitates rocket]
-[Penny giggles] -Sure.
My mom says just 'cause some kids are different,
doesn't mean we shouldn't treat them like normal people.
-What-- What's normal? -[grunting]
-I mean, am I normal? -[Rose] No, no, no, no, no.
Are you normal? I-I-I tend to think that normal is--
Hey, Mom, we're trying to make friends here.
Whoa.
-[Penny yips] -So, girls, what do we think?
A little spa-- space time or…
[sighs]
[Penny] Mommy, I wanna go over there.
Okay. We're gonna go over here.
Huh?
-To this thing. Okay. -[Penny] Over here.
[Rose] Do you know a lot about, like, space or whatever?
-[coos] -That's cool.
I mean, you must get to watch a lot of TV.
No offense or anything, but my mom won't let me do anything that's not productive.
Like, on Mondays, I have my math tutor,
and then on Tuesdays, I have chess, and then Wednesdays…
[space museum narrator 1] …nebula is a type of interstellar cloud…
[Penny giggles]
[narrator 1] …that is so dense that it obscures the visible wavelength of light…
[narrator 2] The distances between planets…
[Rose, Claire, Jodie laugh]
[Melody] Things I can do that you only think I can't:
make people laugh,
a relay race,
algebra,
feed myself,
beat you at a staring contest.
[Chuck] Hey, Rose.
Can you try to remember to include Melody?
Sorry, girls.
I was just with her. I saw my friends and wanted to say hi.
[Chuck] I understand.
I know it's easy to get excited and run off,
but just remember that Melody can't go everywhere that you can.
[Claire] Wait, are you talking about the special ed kid?
[Chuck] I know it's nice to hang out with your friends.
I'm just trying to say that maybe you could find a way to include her.
Okay?
Where is she?
[Stephen Hawking] Although we are puny creatures on a cosmic scale,
we have established a sort of order in one small part of the universe.
We have managed to understand some of the workings of the universe
and may even find a complete theory before too long.
If we do that…
[Chuck] Melody.
Hey, Mel, you can't run off like that.
Do you understand?
[Hawking] When we were young, we weren't afraid to ask why…
[Chuck] That's Stephen Hawking.
He's kinda like you, huh?
-Mmm. -No?
-[chuckles] -Mmm.
"Talk."
[Hawking] But I don't agree.
[Chuck sighs]
[Diane] Oh, God. Penny took forever.
-Is Mel asleep? -Yeah.
[Diane] What's this?
"Let your fingers do the talking with this innovative"…
"Join the conversation."
"Medi-Talker."
Hmm. It's called AAC.
A-Augmentative and alternative communication.
Sounds like it's for an illness.
-She's 12 years old, Di. -Yeah, I-I know.
She doesn't need to be pushed on a swing.
She needs to be hanging out.
She wants to be calling her friends on the phone and gossiping about boys and--
[Diane] I know.
-How much is it? -Oh, it's easier said than done.
-[Diane] How much? -Seventeen thousand dollars.
Ah.
That's just the device alone, not including add-ons.
-What about insurance? -[Chuck] No.
I talked on the phone for two hours with someone. [stammers]
Did you explain? I mean, you can't take no from these people.
Oh, I explained.
I begged.
I yelled.
I apologized for yelling.
I apologized for the tone of my apology until the lady said
that her shift was over and that I had to call back on Monday.
And now I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
What am I supposed to do?
You're supposed to bring in the big guns.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
[employee 1] Good morning, this is Billander Insurance. Please hold.
[phones ringing]
[employee 1] Thank you for calling Billander Insurance.
Hi.
Oh. Hi. Can I help you?
[Diane] Uh, no, I don't think so.
What's your, um… [smacks lips] …your supervisor's name?
-Oh, Mrs. White. -Yeah.
-Oh, I love your blouse. -Thank you.
And what's Mrs. White's boss's name?
-Mrs. White's? -Yeah.
-Mr. Potts. -Okay.
But he's the vice president of the company,
so he doesn't usually do that much--
Oh, "Leonard Potts." I see it. Thank you so much.
-I'm gonna sit there and wait. -He doesn't usually help people.
-That's not-- -[Diane hums]
You-- You're just gonna sit there?
Yeah. I'll just wait.
[humming]
[employee 2] There's a woman sitting right outside your--
-[Diane] Tell him I have plenty of time. -She's got plenty of time.
-No, she, um-- -[humming]
[employee 2] She's-- I think--
She took out knitting, sir.
What do you think of these?
"Not cool."
Hey, do you have these in any other color?
I think she was thinking of maybe, you know, something a little cooler.
[groans]
These are the only kind that fit her pronation.
-Okay. -[cell phone rings]
-[Melody vocalizes] -Hey, did you chain yourself to a desk?
-[Diane] After all that, it went well. -[whispering] It's your mom.
I mean, well, they wanna get her assessed.
Oh.
I mean, I guess before they pay for her to talk,
they wanna make sure she has something to say.
-Are you feeling a bit nervous? -[coos]
[Melody] Okay. I've done, like, a hundred of these.
No sweat, Melody. You got this.
Here's what we're going to do.
We're going to take all of those nerves and bad feelings,
and we're gonna put them in a box,
and we're just gonna put it away on a high, high shelf.
[gasps]
-All gone. -Hmm.
-Okay. -Mmm.
Now…
I'm going to ask you some questions,
and I want you to give me your best answer.
[Diane] God, this is so stressful.
Why do these always take so long?
It's gonna be fine.
[doctor] Which one of these is not like the others?
[Melody] Not like the others. Not like the others.
Okay. Well, tomatoes are gross.
Balloons you can't eat.
Strawberries have seeds on the outside.
Cherries have a pit.
And bananas are yellow.
So, I guess the real question is, which answer does she think is right?
[doctor] Which one?
[Melody] Maybe banana?
Balloon. No, banana.
Balloon. Banana, balloon, balloon, banana.
[inhales deeply]
[clears throat]
[Melody grunts] Why didn't I pick the banana?
[taps tray]
Because you can't eat a balloon.
[Melody groans] Great. Well, that went well.
[doctor] Let's try another.
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks.
-Hi. Thank you. -Come, please.
-[doctor] If you could just grab the door. -[Chuck] Sure.
[doctor] Thank you.
[phone ringing]
[receptionist] Hello, Dr. Hughly's office.
[Dr. Hughly] I'm sorry about the delay.
[patient vocalizes]
[electronic voice] Do you want to see a movie after this?
Yes. Oh, my God.
[receptionist] Can you hold for a moment? I'm gonna go to the back and check.
I just can't approve a Medi-Talker at this time.
[sighs] Hmm.
[Chuck, Dr. Hughly speaking, indistinct]
[Dr. Hughly] Because her cognitive results are…
-[Chuck] Sure, they're glaringly low, but… -[Dr. Hughly] Hmm.
[Diane speaks, indistinct]
[clears throat]
[Melody cooing]
[grunting]
I know that her test scores-- We've been through that.
[indistinct]
["Swinging on a Star" playing]
♪ You may grow up to be a pig ♪
[Chuck] I know.
I know you're bursting with so much to say.
-And we're gonna prove that. -[coos]
Hey.
♪ Or would you rather be a fish? ♪
♪ A fish won't do anything-- ♪
[Melody] My dad thinks there's a solution to every problem.
-Me and Mom know better. -Hey, wait up.
[Melody] It's not like Katherine could just snap her fingers
and make all of our problems disappear.
Excuse me? This is the Department of Education, yeah?
-Yep. -Thanks.
-Uh, sir? Sir. -[employee] Uh-huh?
Hi. Do you know where I might find Katherine Ray?
-Dad. -Melody?
-Mr. Brooks. -Hey.
-Hi. -Hey.
-Is everything okay? -Yeah.
-Sorry to spring this on you. -Oh.
Uh, surprise. We had asked a doctor to fill this out.
It's an assessment for insurance for an AAC device.
Oh, let me see.
I don't know if you've heard of that. It's like a-a Medi-Talker.
Um, well, they told us that it would be a waste of our time.
It's not a waste of time.
-Well, we agree with that. -Yeah.
[Chuck] But we thought maybe you would know somebody here
at the university who might be able to help.
[Katherine] "…specialty or expertise."
Yeah. Do you know anyone at the children's hospital or--
Mr. Brooks, this says a doctor with a relevant area of specialty or expertise.
It doesn't say anything about a medical doctor.
-Oh, yeah. I know. I knew-- I knew that. -[both chuckle]
Okay, let's see.
Um, "Patient is capable of learning." Check.
"Patient understands complex concepts."
Absolutely.
"Patient follows multistep instructions." Check.
Signed Dr. Katherine Ray, PhD.
Done. [chuckles]
[Melody] My bad.
Things I'm gonna do with my Medi-Talker:
Call all my friends on the phone,
interrupt somebody,
prank call Mrs. V,
-give a classroom presentation… -Come on.
[Melody] …recite a poem,
yell to my neighbors,
order food in a drive-through,
use a walkie-talkie,
do karaoke,
-demand a later bedtime… -There he was, the UPS guy…
[Melody] …thank Katherine,
tell Penny to stop stealing my lip gloss.
I said to him, "You have to give me the package.
They've been waiting for it for forever.
And so you have to do this."
-[Diane grunts] -So that you could talk to everybody.
And it was so excit-- And I was so--
And I must have looked so ridiculous, and he probably thought that I was crazy.
-But I said you have to give this to me. -[Diane] Thank you.
I pretended to be you. [chuckles]
That's fraud.
-[Melody chuckles] -Look.
-Look. Look at that. -All right.
-See? You see that? -[vocalizes]
[gasps]
All right. Let me look what we're supposed to do first.
-"Setting up the systems." -[Mrs. V] That's a great color, right?
"Chapter"… Okay.
Well, wait. We have to set up our voice preferences first.
-[groans] -Wait. I gotta read the instructions.
"Word windows. Word windows are the building blocks of Medi-Talker.
You can use the built-in word bank as well as type your own words."
-Oh, look. You can have music, games. -[Medi-Talker chimes]
-[electronic voice] Medi-Talker. -That's really cool.
-Or we could just go ahead without a clue. -[Melody chuckles]
-Okay. Let's see. -[Mrs. V chuckles]
[Diane] "Setup. Voice setup."
[Medi-Talker] Voice setup. Choose your voice.
-Mmm. -[Diane] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Let your sister do it. Let your sister do it.
English.
No, English US.
English.
-[Medi-Talker] Hello. -[Diane] Hello.
-To English US. Child. -Mmm.
-[Medi-Talker in British accent] Hello. -No.
[chuckles] I like that one.
-You do? -[chuckles]
All right. I shouldn't pick. You pick. You pick. It's your voice.
-Okay. -[Medi-Talker speaking Japanese]
[all laugh]
Oh, goodness.
[Medi-Talker speaking Mandarin]
[whispers] She's gonna get a voice.
[Medi-Talker speaking German]
-[Medi-Talker speaking French] -[coos]
-Melody? -[door closes]
Guys?
[sighs] How you doing?
-[vocalizes] -Is that it?
[vocalizes]
Mmm.
[Medi-Talker] Daddy, Ollie jumped out of his tank.
[Chuck cries]
[cries, laughs]
[Melody coos]
Hey.
You sound beautiful.
-Yeah, you do. -[coos]
[Penny] Daddy!
[Chuck] Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
-[Diane] You sound beautiful. -[Chuck] Oh, my God.
Let me see this thing.
[chuckles]
-You got more? -[Diane] Yeah, she does.
[Medi-Talker] Hello. How are you today?
[Chuck] What do you think of that?
[Medi-Talker] Thank you for asking.
[Diane] Show him that one.
[Medi-Talker] I have an idea.
[Chuck chuckles]
Why do we study the past?
-Connor. -[Connor] To prepare for the future.
But why do we study the past?
Beth?
We study the past to prepare for the future.
Mmm. But why do we study the past?
[Medi-Talker] We study the past to prepare for the future.
-[students murmuring] -[Connor] Whoa.
Cool.
Make it say something else.
Wait, is that a talking computer? [chuckles]
[Willy] You're not supposed to call out, Melody.
Okay, Willy. Okay. Thank you.
Okay, guys. It's actually not the computer that's talking.
It's Melody that's talking.
Wow, Melody, that's a very cool, uh, fancy new gadget.
Uh, but I will say that Willy is right.
Uh, please wait for me to call on you before you answer out loud.
Um, okay.
As I think most of you know, I coach the school's Whiz Kids team.
[students cheering]
[Mr. Dimming] Yeah, right? Yeah.
Give it up for Whiz Kids.
This is, uh, a very exciting time in the school year
where we select our team for the season.
-Tryouts are upon us. -[student cheers]
[Mr. Dimming] Think about it. Dig deep. Look inside yourselves.
Do you have what it takes to join the storied ranks of the Spaulding Whiz Kids?
-[students cheering] -[student] Yes!
Sorry, what? I-I actually couldn't hear you.
-[students cheering] -[exclaims]
-What? -[students cheering]
All right. How do we do this?
[Mr. Dimming] Okay, okay.
We'll see. We'll see. I'll see you at tryouts.
All right, now back to work.
We're talking about the Founding Fathers,
George Washing Machine and Thomas Jelly Stone.
[Melody] Boys who have said hi to me in the hallway:
-Willy… -[Rose] Oh, my God, Connor.
[Melody] …Connor…
[laughing] Okay, um, are you gonna try out for Whiz Kids?
Uh, yeah, it's fun, and my mom says I have to, so--
[Claire] Oh, mommy issues.
[Melody] …the fifth grader whose name I don't know.
Rodney, once.
But he may have been saying memory, and not Melody.
[Medi-Talker] Hello.
How are you today?
Uh. Hi, Melody. Cool machine.
[Medi-Talker] I want…
toilet.
[Claire] Thanks for sharing.
-[Rose] Uh, okay. Uh, we gotta go. -[Medi-Talker] I want to ask--
[Claire] See you, Rose.
Um, I'll talk to you later, okay?
So, how are things?
[Medi-Talker] I am happy.
Thank you for asking.
You are happy. Thank you for asking, huh?
[sighs] Let's look at these options.
"I am sad. Thank you for asking.
I am excited. Thank you for asking.
I am hungry. Thank you for asking."
Those are your only feelings?
-Mm-hmm. -Come on, girl.
Let's see what else we can make it say.
[Diane sighs]
[Chuck] "Your shoes are so cute.
Where did you get them?
I love that skirt."
What-- Is everything about clothes?
-"Hey, what's up?" -[Melody] Mm-hmm.
"Hey, what's up?" That's what you want to say?
-[vocalizes] -All right.
"That's the bomb." Is that something people say now?
"Holy crap nugget." That's not even a word.
-[Melody chuckles] -What are you doing?
Katherine sent this list of phrases home
that Melody wants to be able to say.
[Diane] Ah.
"I have the best dad in the world."
-Oh. -[chuckles]
-[Chuck] Let me try it. "I have the"-- -[groans]
[Chuck] Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait.
I think-- Wait. Let's see.
[Medi-Talker] I have the best dad in the world.
Oh, well, you never know when you might need it.
All right. What's that one?
Oh, sweetheart. Why would you ever wanna say these words?
[Diane] Oh, stop. She gets to say whatever she wants.
We don't get to police it.
[Chuck] Mom, read them before you say all that.
-Look at this. -[Diane sighs] Okay.
-[Chuck] Here, give it a try. -Okay.
-"Fart." Really? -[Melody chuckles]
"Fart nugget."
[Melody, Chuck laugh]
[Diane] "Butt cheek." Butt cheek is such a good word.
Butt cheek. [laughs]
Oh, oh. What did I do?
Okay, wait. I got it, I got it.
Um. "Shut up…
you-- you mother"--
["Save The World" playing]
…in-between. Not quite high school yet.
Anybody got any ideas of what that might have been like?
Off the top of your head.
Any thoughts?
An adventure.
A new world out in front of you.
That's what it was like for some of these explorers.
Uh, yes, Jodie.
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
Look at that.
♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
[bell rings]
♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh ♪
[gasps]
[Medi-Talker] Hey, what's up?
Sorry, Melody. I really gotta get inside.
[Medi-Talker] Your shoes are so cute.
What did it say?
[gasps]
[Medi-Talker] I can help study for Whiz Kids.
Melody, you seem nice and all,
but, um, I don't think-- I don't think I need your help to study.
[vocalizes]
[Medi-Talker] Trivia. General.
-Which is the fastest land animal? -[stammers]
[Medi-Talker] What was the pen name of Theodore Geisel?
[Rose] What other subjects are there?
[Chuck sighs]
All right, you want to move back a bit?
Careful.
-Welcome. -[Chuck] Hey.
-How you doing? -Great.
-Thanks for coming. -Of course.
Um, you girls can work, um--
[smacks lips]
Right-- Right here. [chuckles]
Just wait a second though, 'cause the carpets--
-No, Mom. It's fine. -It'll take a second. Um--
Oh, perfect. [chuckles]
-Oh, do you need a hand with it? -Oh, no, I got this, um--
We'll just, uh… One at a time, and then you can come on forward.
Here we go.
All right. Move forward.
Great.
Okay, and forward.
And stop.
Let me get this out of the way.
Okay.
Last one. [sighs]
And forward.
Forward and stop.
[chuckles]
Perfect. Good job.
-[Chuck] All right. -Perfect.
-[chuckles] -Uh, I'll leave you to it.
-I'll see you. Thank you. -You're welcome.
[chuckles]
Well, you girls have fun. [chuckles]
[Rose sighs]
Sorry, my mom's, like, a total clean freak.
Mmm.
[Rose sighs]
Uh, so, wanna get started on the questions?
Yeah.
[Medi-Talker] Trivia.
General.
How long is the regular term for a US representative?
Two years?
Four years?
Six years?
Seven years?
Two.
[Medi-Talker] That is correct.
What is the deepest place on Earth?
The Krubera Cave?
The Mariana Trench?
The Aleutian Trench?
-[sighs] -[Medi-Talker] The Mulu Cave?
Who's even heard of these places?
-[Medi-Talker] Connor. -[Rose] Connor?
He's not even half as smart as he thinks he is.
[Medi-Talker] He's nice.
You like him.
-[vocalizes] -Yes, you do.
You wanna kiss him!
-[gasps] -[groans]
Why not? It's fine. He's cute.
I mean, he's kinda conceited, but he's not so bad.
[Medi-Talker] I will never kiss.
That's not-- [sighs]
You don't know that.
Hmm.
[Rose] So, what happened to you anyway?
[Melody vocalizes]
Sorry, I shouldn't-- I shouldn't have said that. Sorry.
You don't have to answer it.
[Medi-Talker] I have cerebral palsy.
A condition caused by damage to the part of my brain
that controls how I move and talk.
-Does it hurt? -Mmm.
[Medi-Talker] Other people.
-Other people who have it? -Mmm.
[Medi-Talker] They hang on you.
They hang on you with their eyes.
[sighs]
[Medi-Talker] Trivia. General.
In what year did the Constitutional Convention take place?
-1787. -[Medi-Talker] 1492?
177-- That is correct.
[Rose chuckles]
One hundred official test questions from Whiz Kids headquarters in Washington, DC.
I can read each prompt one time
and each answer only once just as it is done in the competition.
What is that? Connor, would you check on the door please?
[Connor] Uh, yeah.
[Mr. Dimming] Um, each question has four multiple-choice options.
A, B, C, D, obviously.
You will be chosen to be a member of Whiz Kids
based on your score and only your score.
[Connor] Hi.
Melody. Hi, can I help you?
[Medi-Talker] Quiz team.
But, I mean, Mr. Dimming, she's from the re--
[Mr. Dimming] Claire, that's enough.
[Claire] Sorry. I mean she's-- she's from the special room.
-Is she, like, even allowed to do this? -[Rose] So?
Are you scared she'll get a better score than you?
[students clamoring, laughing]
Um, is Ms. Ray with you today?
-[Sue] I'm here, I'm here. Hi. -[Melody] Uh.
[Sue panting] She's fast.
[chuckles]
Um, you know that this isn't a club, right?
Yes.
-You understand that? -Mm-hmm.
This is a-a competitive team.
-Yeah. -Right?
So only four students can represent our school in competition and two alternates.
[Medi-Talker] I'm not fragile.
[chuckles]
Um, okay. Well, let me get you an answer sheet.
Okay, everybody focus up. Eyes up here. Attention, please.
This is serious.
Okay, I want everyone to just do your best.
And if you start to get tired, you start to lag,
just think about all the preparation.
This is-- This is where it pays off.
All right, here we go.
Question number one.
Which is the largest country by population?
Question number 77.
Who wrote the book For Whom the Bell Tolls?
A, Gertrude Stein?
B, Ernest Hemingway?
C, Robert Jordan?
D, Sinclair Lewis?
Question number s--
Seven, eight, one, two, three, four…
[Claire] Yeah, okay.
…five, six, seven, eight and one.
[Rose] I think we're up.
[Jodie] Maybe the "Macarena" would work.
[Rose] Melody, hey.
Did you know that Melody suffers from cerebral palsy?
-Uh, yeah. -Yeah. Sure.
[Rose] What did you get on the lost city of gold question?
I already told you it's Shambala.
-[Claire] It's El Dorado. -Mmm, no, it isn't. [chuckles]
-It's Shambala. -Did you--
-It's El Dorado. -[Jodie] No, it isn't.
-[Claire] It's El Dorado. -[Medi-Talker] El Dorado.
See? El Dorado. We're all right. Majority.
-Oh. -You lose.
-[Jodie] Okay, I see my mom. Let's go. -Oh, saved by the bell. Okay.
-[Jodie] Oh, my God. -[Claire] You're just mad today.
I don't know why.
Maybe you're getting too much confidence from that outfit.
-You're literally half-naked. -[Jodie] Oh, my God.
["Elvira" playing on radio]
[Rose] Um, it was cool that you came in today.
Like, if you want to, you should be able to try out like everyone else.
[Mrs. V] Hey!
Melody! Yoo-hoo!
-[students laughing] -Yoo-hoo! Come on.
Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.
Do you know that person?
[Mrs. V] And up and down and up and down and-- Hey, kids!
Yoo-hoo! I'm gonna start to dance.
Come on. Come on. Let's go.
[Medi-Talker] I'm not suffering.
What do you mean?
[Medi-Talker] I have cerebral palsy.
-A condition caused by damage… -I didn't mean it like that.
…to the part of my brain…
[Mrs. V] Melody, come on.
…that controls how I move and talk.
[Mrs. V] We gotta go. Go, go. Let's go.
Hey, Mel.
You wanna go to the mall this weekend?
Yeah.
[Mrs. V] Come on.
♪ My heart's on fire for Elvira ♪
[Medi-Talker] I definitely made the Whiz Kids.
Course you did.
You're a fighter.
-♪ Giddyap ♪ -♪ Oom poppa, oom poppa, mow mow ♪
[Rose] Oh, this is where I got my shoes. Like, my really sparkly ones.
Oh, my God. I was headed toward the escalator.
I don't even think of you as disabled anymore. I just--
Isn't that funny?
I can't believe the grand opening of Tread is today.
They have a deejay and everything.
[chattering, laughing]
[Rose] Oh, my God. This line is so long.
[sighs]
[Medi-Talker] I have an idea.
What is it?
Just wait a second.
Um, excuse me, sir. Can we go in?
[bouncer] After you wait in line like everybody else.
But, um, my sister here,
she's only allowed out of the hospital for a few hours,
and-and she really wants to go in.
-[bouncer] It's not my call. -Dude, just let her in.
-[bouncer] I wish I could. -Yeah, let her in.
Let her in. We don't care.
-[bouncer] Please. -She's in a wheelchair.
[fake coughs]
[customer] Come on. Seriously?
-Okay, just go. -Really?
-I mean, thank you so much. Thank you. -Quick, come on. Go, please, go.
-We'll go. -Thank you. Sorry.
["Like I Love You" playing]
[Rose] Oh, my gosh. Like the big one?
[both laughing]
Close your eyes. We can rinse it, okay?
What do you mean, no? Okay, I promise you! I wouldn't--
♪ Baby, just remember ♪
♪ Sing a song with me ♪
You look good.
Ooh, I mean…
-Very cool. -[both chuckle]
♪ You're a good girl And that's what makes me trust ya ♪
-These. Yeah. -[gasps]
♪ Late at night I talk to you ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
[laughs]
♪ I could change your life ♪
[music stops]
-Can I have a bite? -No.
[music resumes]
♪ Drums ♪
♪ Hey! ♪
♪ It's kinda special, right? ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ You know ♪
♪ You think about it ♪
♪ Sometimes, people ♪
♪ And that's what it is ♪
♪ Now, everybody dance ♪
-[students clamoring, cheering] -Yeah, yeah! Go! Go!
[student] Oh, my God.
Good morning, Spaulding students.
This is Mr. Dimming with a quick announcement.
We had a great turnout for this year's Whiz Kids tryout,
so thank you to all who participated.
It was, uh, really, really tough to make this decision,
but the-- the numbers don't lie.
And now, without further ado, here are your 2003 Whiz Kids!
-Hey. Is this it? -Yeah.
Okay.
The four students who will represent our school in competition:
First, with a score of 89, Rose Spencer.
Give it up for Rose.
[laughs]
[Mr. Dimming] Coming in with a score of 91, Rodney Walsh.
-Yeah! -That's what I thought.
-Yeah! -That's what I thought. I'm the best.
-I'm literally the best. -You didn't know.
Give it up for Claire West.
-[cheering] -Ah, Claire!
[giggles]
Finally, with a score of 97.
That's a new school record, by the way.
Drumroll, please.
[imitates drumroll]
[imitates cymbal crash]
Connor Bates.
-[cheering] -I did it! Yes! Yes!
[Mr. Dimming] Congratulations to our team.
Go Spaulding Shooting Stars.
[students giggling, chattering]
[Mrs. Billups] Oh, there we go.
[Melody] Things about the world I don't understand…
[Mrs. Billups] All right, Melody. Here, let me put this on.
[Melody] …war…
[Mrs. Billups] Have a nice evening.
[Melody] …why so many things have to be so hard…
Melody. Did you hear? I made Whiz Kids.
[Melody] …how telepathy works…
…I would get it, but I did.
And Claire and Jodie were playing…
[Melody] …pity…
It's kind of hilarious.
[Melody] …why most people don't even see me…
[chattering]
[Melody] …French kissing…
[chattering]
[Melody] …why anyone would like mayonnaise.
"Yeah, guys. Like, I'm the smartest, because, like, I made it,
and I had a really high score." And we're like, "No one cares, Connor."
[Diane] Yeah, the man owes you an explanation.
-[Mrs. V] You are damn right. -[Chuck] Wait a minute. Hold on a second.
-[Mrs. V] Sorry for cursing. -[Chuck] We don't know what happened.
[Diane, Mrs. V] We do know what happened.
[Diane] Melody told Mrs. V she got all the answers correct.
[Mrs. V] I'm telling you, something stinks.
[Chuck] Penny, come eat your apples.
I'm gonna call this Dimming guy myself.
[Mrs. V] Oh, that's good.
[Chuck] Diane, I know you're upset, but you were the one…
[Medi-Talker] Don't want quiz team.
Don't want.
Don't want quiz team.
-Don't want. Don't want. -We have to at least consider--
[Melody exclaiming]
[Medi-Talker] Stop. You stop.
[Melody exclaiming]
[Medi-Talker] Will hurt Rose.
[Diane] Rose?
What does Rose have to do with this?
If you've made the team, then you should be on the team.
[Mrs. V] You're not a quitter. I won't let you be.
[Diane] Yeah, I'm gonna reach out to Katherine for help.
This is Melody's answer sheet, and this is his answer key.
Wait, she went through my desk. You went through my desk?
-[Diane] Yes, she did. And thank you. -[Mr. Dimming stammers]
-[Diane] Tell him what's on there. -[Mrs. Antenucci] Uh. This is, um…
[Diane] You can say it. Melody got every answer correct.
Every single one.
[Mr. Dimming scoffs] What?
No, that can't happen.
[Melody] Wait, what?
[Chuck] Just 'cause it's never happened doesn't mean that it can't happen.
-[Melody] But it did happen. -[Mr. Dimming] No!
Teachers cannot speak like this.
[Medi-Talker] I didn't guess one time.
[Diane] I know you didn't, sweetheart.
[Mrs. Gardner] I think I see what's going on here.
-Uh, may I? -Yeah, of course.
[Mrs. Gardner sighs] Melody.
-This is important. -Mm-hmm.
I need you to be honest.
Did your classroom aide help you with those answers?
[Chuck] Sorry, what are you suggesting?
-It's just a question. -[Melody coos]
Because maybe sometimes, uh, you get torn between two answers,
A or B, but you see your aide's pen hovering over one and not the other?
[Chuck] Oh, that doesn't sound like just a question.
[Diane] Yeah, it's because it's not a question. It's an accusation.
All right. Everyone, let's just take a breath and calm down.
-[Medi-Talker] Mine. -Yes.
[Medi-Talker] Answers. Mine.
-All right. Thank you. -[Diane] Yes.
[Chuck] Sorry.
Uh, you know what? No, I'm not sorry. You know what?
Mrs. Gardner, my daughter has integrity,
and I don't need a fancy degree to see that.
My wife can see it. She can see it.
Why can't you?
If she says that she aced her test, then she aced it.
And whatever you say, it doesn't matter.
I'm sorry. You can just-- You can forget it.
[Melody chuckling]
[Mrs. Antenucci] Is she okay?
-Yeah, she's fine. -She's laughing.
The point is that Melody got a perfect score.
So why isn't she on the Whiz Kids team?
-[Diane] Yeah. -Uh…
I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation.
[Chuck] Well, let's hear it.
[Diane sighs]
Well, I mean-- [stammers]
Y-Y-You put these kids in my class.
I have no training for this.
Right? I have no expertise.
I don't know how to talk to your child.
I've never worked with someone with her condition before.
I mean, I have no doubt that Melody is a kind, nice girl. I just--
[Diane] She's not just nice.
She's bright.
She's capable.
Wallace. Please tell me you have an explanation.
W-What do I have to explain? This isn't a test.
It's not for grades.
It's not a class.
This is an extracurricular team.
I didn't think I needed to. This doesn't happen. I--
I didn't grade her answer sheet.
That's what it's called.
-[Elena] That's the worst word. -I didn't make the word.
[Rodney] I'm gonna be honest. Maybe it's just a period on top of the line.
That's literally what it is. You don't have to be so defensive about it.
All right, all right. Whiz Kids, Whiz Kids, listen up. Please.
Sit down.
Jodie, Claire. Please.
Rodney, pizza out. Thank you.
Listen, eyes up front.
There has been a change to the Whiz Kids roster.
Melody Brooks will join the team for the competition.
[Claire scoffs] But Mr. Dimming…
[Mr. Dimming] Look, Melody earned her place on the team
like the rest of you.
And if a mistake was made, it was mine.
My fault.
[Rodney] Mr. D, that makes no sense. There's already four of us on the team.
You can't just remove somebody for somebody else.
[Mrs. Antenucci] Rodney.
Rose Spencer will become the first alternate.
[Rose] Why me? I have put in so much time for this.
[Mr. Dimming] You had the lowest tryout score, Rose.
[Mrs. Antenucci] Elena and Jodie will still escort them to the tournament
and to Washington if we qualify.
Thank you very much.
Go Whiz Kids.
-[Rodney] Connor. -[Connor] Geez.
I'd like to speak to you outside right now.
[Mr. Dimming] Okay, everyone.
Uh, we've got a few weeks to regionals, and we got a lot of work to do.
Let's, uh, gather round.
[Mrs. Antenucci] I've seen all types of teachers.
Wallace Dimming is one of the good ones.
-He cares about his kids. -Melody is his kid too.
You violated his trust.
You tarnished his reputation.
You cannot ask him to welcome you back after this.
[scoffs] Fine.
But we both know you never wanted my program to begin with.
I admire your idealism, Dr. Ray.
I really do.
But I have to work in the real world.
What world do you think Melody lives in?
When you're done here, what do you think was gonna happen?
Those kids were always gonna go back to special ed.
I can't afford to hire someone to babysit them,
and even if I did, and it had all the magical benefits that you seem to imagine,
what then?
More disabled kids would move into my district.
-They need resources to support them too. -[scoffs]
Did you ever think of that?
You know what?
Thank you.
You just helped me figure out my thesis for my book.
Disabilities don't hold students back.
Schools do.
["Le triangle des Bermudes" playing]
[Melody] People I think should marry each other:
Maria and Rodney,
Katherine and Matthew Perry,
Claire and Dr. Evil…
Stop playing with your food.
[Melody] …Mr. Dimming and nobody…
Whoa! So cool.
[Melody] …Connor and me.
[Rodney] Let me see it.
-I want one. -[Rose] Me too.
[Melody] Even if Rose wasn't mad at me, she still wouldn't sit with me.
Being special usually means being separated.
-[Claire] I'm not sad. You're sad. -[Jodie] Oh, my God.
You.
[Melody] At least I still get to sit with the cool kids.
[Penny] Melly!
Whiz Kids, Whiz Kids, Whiz Kids!
Time to get up, time to get up, time to get up, sleepyhead.
I have a surprise for you.
[Melody gasps]
Do you like it?
-[Melody exclaims] -Aw.
God, it's gonna be a good day.
I think this-- Yeah, this is it.
Oh, man. Look how cool this is.
This is so cool.
Oh, yeah!
[Mr. Dimming] All of our hard work is leading up to this-this match.
-This event. Stay present. Stay focused. -[Chuck] You okay?
Hey, remember this is what you worked for, okay.
You got this. All right? Yeah.
-[Paul] Melody Brooks? -[Diane] Yeah, hi.
How's it going? My name is Paul. I'm the stage manager here.
-[Diane] Hi, Paul. -[Paul] Can I steal you just for a second
so I can show you the set and the stage and everything?
-[Diane] Okay, she's got this. -[Paul] All right, you ready? Let's roll.
This is the set.
This is-- This is where your team will be standing.
And, uh, that's your podium at the very end there,
if you want to go check her out.
We adjusted the height.
It's gonna line up with your chair a little bit easier.
And it's pretty simple, I mean, there's the, you know, buttons.
And ask you a question, you hit whatever button is lined up with the answer.
A, B, C or D.
Um, but also I-I think you're gonna do great.
Um, and between you and me,
even though I'm supposed to be neutral and best team wins,
knock their socks off.
Okay, mop the floor with them.
I know you got it in you, okay?
[Medi-Talker] Thank you.
[announcer] Will all contestants please stay in the backstage area?
What do you think? Glasses on or off?
I mean, I can barely read the questions, Paul.
-Claire, let me have it, please. -[Claire] No, it's mine.
[Mr. Dimming] One sec, Rodney.
-[Claire] Looks like my grandma. -[Rose] Doesn't matter.
[Claire] I'm gonna tell my grandma you said that.
[Rose] No. [chuckling] No.
[vocalizes]
[Rose sighs]
[Claire scoffs]
[Medi-Talker] I'm sorry.
[Rose] It's fine. Don't worry about it.
I only ever hung out with you because my parents promised me an iPod.
[announcer] Will all contestants please stay in the backstage area?
-[Chuck] Hey, there she is. -[Penny] Rosie.
-[Chuck] Hey, hey. -Hi, Penny. [chuckles]
-There she is. Hi! -[Chuck] Penny. Come here.
[Chuck] Come on, bud.
Yeah, sure. Go to the bathroom.
-Uh, we're gonna, uh, go to the bathroom. -[Chuck] Sure.
-Can you keep an eye on her? Okay. -Yeah, I got it. Come on. Oh, boy.
[Claire] 'Cause I like it.
I just want to know if I can, like, keep it on one side or the other one.
[announcer] Whiz Kids family and friends, please begin finding your seats.
The show will commence in 20 minutes.
-[Claire] Do you have any gum? -[Elena] Mm-mmm.
[door closes, locks]
[Diane] Do you wanna tell me what happened?
-[Melody whimpers] -[Diane] No?
[Diane sighs]
It's hard sometimes, huh?
Having CP.
Hmm.
Yeah. Mad.
Yeah, it makes you mad.
"Feel. Problem."
Like a problem?
-Mmm. [chuckles] -[Diane] For who?
[sniffles]
[Diane] No.
[Melody] Mmm.
[sighs]
[Medi-Talker] I love you too.
[Diane] Say it again.
Come on.
[Medi-Talker] I love you too.
[Melody sighs]
[Diane kisses] I love you so much.
Say it again.
Go on. Say it one more time.
[Medi-Talker] I love you too.
[both laughing]
[presenter] Live from the JCMB studios in sunny Sacramento.
It's the tri-city Whiz Kids regional finals.
Hosted as always by the anchor who puts the action in Action Eight News.
Len Kingsley.
After the preliminary rounds, only two teams remain.
And it all comes down to this.
Twenty-five questions. Four points apiece.
Destiny, a button press away.
[audience cheering]
[presenter] Len, tell these Whiz Kids what they can win.
Right now, one of these two teams will win the chance
to compete in Washington, DC at the National Championships for…
ten thousand dollars!
[audience cheering]
Without further ado, let's welcome the Whiz Kids.
From Perry Valley Elementary in Perry Valley.
Come on out.
[audience cheering]
[spectator] Let's go, Perry Valley!
And from Spaulding Elementary in Aster Grove.
-Let's bring it. -Walk, walk.
-Let's go. Go. Go. -[Len] Here they come.
Come on. Come on. Go. Smile. Smile.
[audience applauding]
[Len] Here they come.
[Len] Well…
-All right. All right. -Okay, shh. You guys.
Everybody settle in 'cause this is gonna be a fun one.
Everybody ready?
-Here we go. First question. -[laser sound effect plays]
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were fought during what year?
A, 1773?
B, 1775?
C, 1776?
Or D, 1855?
-[bell chimes] -[bell chimes]
[bells chiming]
Everybody in?
[bell dings]
And the answer is…
-B, 1775. -[Connor] Yes.
[audience cheering, applauding]
[Len] Next question.
What does the word "oxymoron" mean?
I don't know that one.
[Len] A, a combination of contradictory words?
B, a sequence of rhyming words?
C, a word that phonetically imitates sound?
Or D, an ignorant literary character?
[bell chimes]
[bells chiming]
-Everybody in? -[sighs]
[bell dings]
[audience cheering]
Question five.
You know the guy.
[Len] What does a numismatist study?
Question eight.
Which poet said,
"Laughter is the language of the soul"?
The answer, of course, is B, Pablo Neruda.
[Connor] Yes!
[Len] Question nine.
Question ten.
Question 11. [exclaims]
Question 14.
What species of shark is said to be the largest ever?
A, great white?
B, whale shark? C, plesiosaur?
-Or D, megalodon? -Megalodon.
What was that, dear?
Answer's D, megalodon.
[audience applauding]
Question 24.
In what country can Machu Picchu be found?
A, Costa Rica?
B, Peru?
C, Saudi Arabia?
-[no audible dialogue] -Or D, the Netherlands?
[bells chiming]
[bell dings]
[Len] The answer is B, Peru.
Oh! Yeah.
Yes!
[Len chuckles] Wow. Wow.
Two-point difference, and one question to go.
-Here it is. Final question. -[laser sound effect plays]
What Latin term or phrase means "at first sight"?
A, prima facie?
B, carpe diem?
C, e pluribus unum?
Or D, pro forma?
[bells chiming]
[chiming continues]
-We in? We in? -[bell dings]
And the answer is…
-A, prima facie. -[audience applauding, cheering]
[Len] Oh, wow.
With an un-- unusual turn of events,
the score between our two finalists is tied at 83,
but there can only be one winner which means…
-One moment, one mo-- -[audience laughs]
[chuckles] Just one moment. Yes?
[audience murmuring]
[Len] All righty.
Which means we will have what the Whiz Kids call
a lightning round.
[thunderclap sound effect plays]
[Len] Players, you have 30 seconds to choose a member
to represent your team in a head-to-head matchup.
The first one to get the question wrong, their team loses.
The other team, well, they're off to the nationals. Go.
[contestants chattering]
No, I'll do it.
[chattering continues]
-[crew member mutters] Yes. -Yeah, shh. Quiet.
Ten thousand dollars on the line, and you're so sure of yourself.
[contestants clamoring]
Connor had the highest score. Mr. Dimming said--
No, I didn't. [clears throat]
[Claire] Why are you coughing like that?
Melody had the highest score.
[Rodney] I think he's got a point. She's barely even gotten a question wrong.
[Len] Ten seconds.
If she goes, we're gonna look like-- We're gonna look funny, okay?
[Connor] Holy crap, Claire.
How funny are we gonna look if we're the losers?
-Ten seconds and we're arguing. Just vote. -[Rodney] Then it's Melody.
Time's up! Teams, send up your contenders.
[audience cheering]
[Paul] We're live in five, four, three, two…
[Len] Yeah!
And we're back with the lightning round.
We have Trevor from Perry Valley Elementary
and Melody from Spaulding Elementary.
Yeah!
[Chuck] Oh! Oh! Oh!
-Oh! [laughs] -[screams]
Melody, Trevor, are you ready?
Ready, Mr. Kingsley.
Quiet, please.
Remember, kids, the first team that gets a question wrong, they lose.
[inhales sharply] First question.
What is hexadactylism?
A, double vision?
[Len] B, left-handedness?
C, having six appendages on a hand or foot?
Or D, a form of cancer?
[bell chimes]
Having six appendages is correct.
[indistinct]
[audience cheering]
[students cheering]
[Len] Next question.
Who is the composer of "Rhapsody in Blue"?
A, Mozart?
B, Gershwin? C, Beethoven?
Or D, Berlin?
[bell chimes]
[indistinct]
[bell chimes]
B is correct.
Are these kids good or what, huh?
Wow.
Question three.
In outer space, a cloud of dust and gas that blocks light from other objects is:
A, a black hole?
B, a rogue planet?
C, an Oort cloud?
Or D, a dark nebula?
[bell chimes]
[bell dings]
And the answer is…
Lord, give me strength.
[Len] …D, dark nebula!
Spaulding wins it all!
[laughing]
[audience cheering]
[cheering]
[Len] Congratulations, Spaulding.
Spaulding will now travel to Washington, DC
to compete in the nationals.
[Rodney] Hey, dude. We won.
[Len] I just want to thank all the competitors today.
It was a tough one.
I'll see you all at next year's Whiz Kids.
Until then, I'm Len Kingsley.
Take good care.
[Paul] And we're out.
-Congratulations. Congratulations. -Oh, thank you kindly.
Congratulations all around. Way to go.
[students chattering]
-[Jodie retches] It's stressful. -[glass tinkling]
Hey, everybody. If I could have your attention for a second.
Um, I just want to say you were all great today.
Yo. Look over at her.
[Mr. Dinning] It was a real team effort. I'm proud of you. You should be proud too.
[teacher] Hear! Hear!
-[Mr. Dinning] Now we're moving on to DC. -[Claire] Oh, my God.
[Mr. Dimming] The nation's capital.
You know, face the best of the best of the best.
-Embarrassing. -[chuckles]
[Mr. Dimming] You know, we gotta keep practicing,
keep preparing for the future, right?
[students cheer]
-[Mr. Dimming] Now you get-- -[students cheering] Yeah!
[Mr. Dimming] Now you get what I've been talking about, right?
[students applauding]
[Mr. Dimming] Here's to you. Go Spaulding.
To you.
[Medi-Talker] They don't want us in class anymore.
Why aren't you angry?
If I was stuck making anthropomorphic trees
and playing hygiene bingo for years,
I would punch a hole in the wall.
[Medi-Talker] I would probably miss.
[Katherine] Melody, they are gonna say that the kids don't feel safe.
That you take time away from instruction.
That you just can't learn.
But even if that were true,
you deserve to be in those classrooms, just like everybody else.
[Medi-Talker] I'm excited about Washington.
Even if they don't want me, they need me.
[Katherine chuckles]
[Melody] Things I'm excited about:
The first one is flying on an airplane.
I love flying on airplanes, which I hardly ever get to do.
Oh. Hello.
[Melody] The second one is staying in a hotel.
Come on. Come on in.
[Melody] I just love how everything is so neat and tidy, and the bed is always made.
Be on national television, which I am so excited about.
[Mrs. V] I have a present for you.
[Melody] Make Mrs. V proud.
And be a Whiz Kid.
Even though I almost wasn't.
[Mr. Dimming] Yeah, the-- the DC metro is actually really safe.
See, I actually did a semester at Georgetown,
uh, and for someone who loves American history, it's just the best place.
There's so much.
Hold on. Don't look. Don't look.
[breathes shakily]
Okay.
That's for you to wear to nationals for Whiz Kids.
We're gonna make these sparkle, like you're gonna sparkle.
[chuckles]
[Medi-Talker] Thank you.
So today is the big day.
Flying to DC.
So we better get a move on. We better decorate.
-[cell phone rings] -[Mr. Dimming] Oh, God. What is this?
[Elena] Connor, you have maple syrup all over your face.
-Hello? -[customer service agent, indistinct]
Oh, my God.
Uh, uh, miss, miss, miss, miss, check.
Check, now.
Uh. Oh, no.
Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
Uh, whoa. Everyone, listen. Listen. Listen up. Listen up.
Rodney. Rodney, stop it. Stop-- Stop eating.
-They've canceled our flight. -[students] What?
They're gonna try to get us on an earlier one, but we gotta go.
We gotta go. Come on. Come on. Am I-- Am I speaking English?
[knocking on door]
[Mrs. V] That's your mom. Ooh, she's so early.
-[Diane] Oh, I'm sorry to burst in on you. -You're here already
-to pick up the MVP. -Yes. Yes, they're canceling flights.
-There's a storm to the east. -Oh.
-[Diane] Come on, Penny. -[Mrs. V] Oh, my.
-[Penny] Hi, Mrs. V. -[Diane] They canceled our flight,
but Mr. Dimming called, and I think we can get on an early one.
-Thank you for taking Penny. -[Mrs. V] Come on, Miss Penny.
-Love you. -[Mrs. V] Come on. Come on, kiddo.
Shoes. Where are her shoes?
[chuckles]
["Family Affair" playing]
-[Chuck] Got it? -[Diane] Yes, got it. Go. Go. Go.
I don't know how long they'll hold it.
Come on. We can do it. [panting]
-Let's go! -[Chuck] Come on. We gotta go.
[Diane] I left my makeup on the counter.
-[Chuck] It's okay. It's okay. -[Diane groans]
-Come on. Hold the-- Oh, my God. -[Chuck] I got it. I got it.
[Diane] If we miss this…
-[Chuck] Diane. -No, no, no, no, no.
-[Chuck] The door. The door. -Oh, my God.
The elevator is out of order.
Sorry. Sorry. Careful.
Sorry. Sorry. Let's go! Let's go!
[Melody groans]
Excuse me. Hi.
[agent] Ma'am, you have to wait your turn.
Yes, we are on 606 and it's boarding.
-Okay, these are your ID's? -[Chuck] Thank you. Sorry.
-We've been waiting. -You'll be fine.
[agent] Uh, Brooks…
-[Diane] Need to take off my watch? -[Chuck] Sorry. Can I put that in there?
-You can have her step on through. -[Chuck] Oh, no. She can't step through.
-It's only, like, ten feet. -[Diane] She doesn't step.
-You're gonna have to carry her. -[Diane] Oh, my God.
-[Chuck] You need help? -[Diane] Uh, no, no. Thank you.
♪ Now ya floatin' So you gots to dance for me ♪
♪ Don't need no hateration ♪
-Come on. Come on. -[Diane] Yeah!
Yes. [shrieks]
-[Chuck] Hey. Hey. Hi. -[sighs] Thank God.
-[agent] How can I help you? -We are here. Sorry. We're late.
Brooks family. [pants]
Oh, I'm afraid-- Flight 606? The doors have already closed.
-What? -No, but we're here.
I mean, we just got here. This is our flight.
We're ticketed. These are--
-[Medi-Talker] It's very important. -[agent] I understand.
Yes. Yeah, we're with a group of kids. It's a-- It's a quiz team.
[agent] Yeah. They were a raucous group.
-[Chuck] They're already on board? -[Diane] Wait, what?
I'm very sorry that you won't get to cheer on your friends.
-[Diane] She's on the team. -[agent] Wow.
[Chuck] Can you radio the captain or something? We have to get on board.
[agent] Once the doors are closed, I can't open them. It's an FAA regulation.
-I'm not sure that's entirely true. -You could open them.
It is quite true, sir.
-[Medi-Talker] Is there another boat? -[Diane] Mel. Mel, stop.
[agent] The plane is about to taxi.
-[Chuck] There's nothing else? -[Diane] What about another airline?
You're welcome to try another.
-[Medi-Talker] Please. Please. -[Chuck] It's sitting right there.
[Medi-Talker] Please. Please. Please. Please.
[Chuck] We have somewhere we need to be.
[airplane engine roaring]
[Chuck] I'm looking at the plane right now.
-Why can't we just go-- -[Diane] We need to be on this flight.
I don't understand. I really don't understand. Please.
-I need to follow her. -[Chuck] Yeah.
Mel. Melody.
[no audible dialogue]
[airplane departs]
-[cell phone beeps] -[sighs]
-[sighs] Everyone's in DC except Melody. -[Diane sighing]
Antenucci told me to call Mrs. Gardner.
Gardner said I should call Dimming.
Dimming just told me to call Antenucci.
[Diane sighs]
[Chuck sighs]
[sighs] I actually thought that machine had changed things.
[sighs]
[Melody] Things I can't do:
walk,
sing,
brush my own teeth,
reach a high shelf,
go upstairs in my house without being carried,
go to the bathroom alone.
[knock on door]
[door opens]
[vocalizes]
Hey.
I made you a milkshake.
[Melody] Make an airplane on time because I wasn't invited to breakfast.
Please talk to me.
[both sigh]
I love you.
[Chuck] Yeah, milkshake. That's right.
-Yeah, it was an accident. Uh-huh. -[footsteps on stairs]
Look-Look, I just need you to tell me if I can get this thing fixed or not.
Yeah, a milkshake.
Yeah.
What if I did turn it on before it dried?
Really?
[vehicle door slides closed]
Thank you.
[phone beeps]
Penny, come on.
Come eat your breakfast.
[Diane] Okay, I know you're upset, but that thing was expensive.
We cannot express our anger that way.
Every single--
[sighs] Penny.
Because your decisions, they impact everybody.
-[Melody exclaiming] -Oh, God. I can't right now. Okay!
-Just give me a second, please! -[thud]
-Oh, God. What was that? -[Melody panting]
[Melody screams]
[gasps] Oh, my-- Penny!
-[shrieks] -[Diane] Chuck!
-[Penny sobbing] -[Diane] Chuck! Chuck!
[ignition warning beeping]
[Melody] Stop.
Such a small word.
Trapped in my mind.
[police officers chattering]
[Chuck] Is that a smile?
Is that a smile I see?
There it is. You're better.
I think she's better.
[sighs] She's gonna be okay.
Just some scrapes and bruises.
[whimpering]
-What? -[whimpering]
-Head. -[whimpers]
Brain, brain, brain.
No, her brain is gonna be fine.
She's gonna be perfectly fine.
I'll get you out of here. [sighs]
[Melody whimpers]
[sighs]
[Chuck] Thank you.
[whimpers]
No.
It wasn't your fault.
Hey, look at me.
-I was the one who wouldn't listen. -[whimpers]
You tried to warn me.
You tried to slow me down, but I wouldn't listen.
[Melody sniffling, sobbing]
I mess up all the time.
-[grunts] -Yeah, I do.
And I was wrong every single time.
You have a voice.
-And it is beautiful. -[chuckling, sniffling]
-[chuckling] -And you have so much to say.
Yeah, that's what makes your voice your own.
And I want you to use it.
Okay?
I want you to-- to sing, to scream, to…
[laughs] …I don't know, tell jokes.
[chuckles]
[Diane laughs]
[sniffling, sobs]
I'm done fighting your battles. [sniffles]
Let them hear you.
-Okay? -[whimpers]
Please, please.
Get up here.
-[breathing heavily] -[Melody sobbing]
-What are you gonna say? Huh? -[chuckles]
[breathing heavily]
[Melody chuckles]
[chuckling, sniffling]
It's good to be home.
Back from DC with you guys.
So, uh, let's get started.
Why do we study the past?
[knock on door]
Oh, uh-- Melody.
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, um--
What are you doing here?
She knows that the mainstreaming program has ended, right?
She wants to talk to you.
Oh, I'm so sorry about what happened with DC.
I tried to get them to hold the flight.
-We didn't want anyone to-- -Excuse me.
[Mr. Dimming] What? I--
[Medi-Talker] Was everyone invited to breakfast?
[Medi-Talker] Except me?
[Claire] Well, it's-it's kinda gross watching you eat.
-Shut up, Claire. -[student] Dude.
-You all said it. -Shut up.
She would have made the plane if she was there.
-Yeah. -[Connor] Then maybe we would've won.
[Medi-Talker] No matter what I did or how good I was,
you never treated me like a part of the team.
That's not true. You were a huge part of the team.
You did so well--
[Medi-Talker] Mr. Dimming, I have something to say.
You have to wait.
Okay.
[Medi-Talker] There's always weather or a broken elevator.
Or someone in an accessible stall.
It stinks, but that's just how it is.
It goes with the chair,
but you shut me out.
You excluded me.
That was a choice you made.
And you know what?
-I don't care. -[sighs]
[Medi-Talker] Not anymore.
If I make you uncomfortable, deal with it.
If I disgust you,
if you pity me,
it's your problem.
Not mine.
Yeah, I need a push sometimes,
but I won't be pushed around.
[students chuckle]
[sniffles]
[Medi-Talker] We study the past to prepare for the future.
And this classroom is the only place in school
where I can do that.
I just want to be in sixth grade.
[sniffles]
[Medi-Talker] So I am staying.
[both chuckle]
-I mean, where does she come from? -I don't know.
Hey, hey, hey. Come on. Come on. Come on.
[Mr. Dimming, indistinct]
[sighs]
She's her mother's daughter.
No, she's not.
So much cooler.
[sighs]
This is true.
[Mr. Dimming] "We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal."
Who said that?
Thomas Jefferson.
Wrote that in the Declaration of Independence, of course.
Next question.
Who said the famous line--
[Melody] Doesn't matter what I sound like.
All that matters is what I have to say.
[Medi-Talker] Because I'm not going anywhere.
[Mr. Dimming] Melody.
["These Are Days" playing]
♪ These are the days ♪
♪ Oh ♪
[Melody] Jen, I just have to say thank you so much
for letting me borrow your voice.
It was so much fun.
I just really, really appreciate it.
[Jennifer Aniston] Oh, Melody, please. Are you kidding?
My pleasure. And anytime.
[Medi-Talker] I'm kinda liking this Medi-Talker voice.
I think I've got it from here.
[Jennifer Aniston] Okay.
Suit yourself.
♪ I promise ♪
♪ Will the whole world be warm as this? ♪
♪ And as you feel it ♪
♪ You'll know it's true ♪
♪ That you are blessed and lucky ♪
♪ It's true ♪
♪ That you are touched by something ♪
♪ That'll grow and bloom in you ♪
♪ These are days ♪
♪ You'll remember ♪
♪ When May is rushing over you ♪
♪ With desire ♪
♪ To be part of the miracles you see ♪
♪ In every hour ♪
♪ You'll know it's true ♪
♪ That you are blessed and lucky ♪
♪ It's true that you ♪
♪ Are touched by something ♪
♪ That'll grow and bloom in you ♪
♪ These are days ♪
♪ These are the days ♪
♪ You might fill with laughter Until you break ♪
♪ These days you might feel A shaft of light ♪
♪ Make its way across your face ♪
♪ And when you do You'll know how it was meant to be ♪
♪ See the signs Know their meaning ♪
♪ It's true ♪
♪ You'll know how it was meant to be ♪
♪ Hear the signs And know they're speaking to you ♪
♪ To you ♪
[singer vocalizing]
[song fades out]
嗨，我是梅樂蒂布魯克斯
衹要捐出一杯菓昔的錢 就能拯救像我一樣有腦性麻痺的孩童
沒啦，我開玩笑的
我不想要你們的錢，也不需要同情
放心盯著我看吧
現在是二零零二年
沒看過不會講話的輪椅妹嗎？
我並不是無話可說
相信我，我有很多話想說 但我的舌頭不聽使喚
我知道你們在想什麼
我的聲音聽起來不衹十二歲吧？
我說過了我無法講話
我發不出聲音
如果你們能認眞傾聽，一切會好很多
這很顯然不是我的聲音
我不知道我的聲音聽起來如何
所以我能隨意想像我的聲音
親愛的，快過來
很好，好，刷牙吧
我超愛珍妮佛安妮斯頓
我當然會選她的聲音
我衹是借用
而不是搶走她的聲音
人要樂於分享
他們同意讓我們投保嗎？
他們讓我等了兩小時，然後又掛我電話
眞討厭
這樣吧，葛斯曼先生 取消了今天的牙齒檢查預約
我之後再打給他們
牠叫奧利
我想養狗，但我父母說狗很難照顧
快過來，來這裡，奧利
快點，跟著走
-佩妮，快穿好衣服 -跟著走
看到沒？牠聽得懂指令
佩妮，快過來，妳要把衣服穿起來
但我覺得好無聊
-不管是否無聊都得穿 -今天要上學
沒錯
他為什麼要把電視關掉？
我女兒梅樂蒂三點和史賓賽醫生有約
來，乖女兒
我喜歡列清單
以下是我永遠無法習慣的事
大家沒看到我，就把屁股擋在我面前
樓梯…
奧利
大家用悲傷的語調跟我問好
珍妮佛洛佩茲的頭髮 為什麼總是那麼完美…
學校要蓋新的遊憩區
-眞棒 -眞不敢相信…
清晨
跳跳糖在嘴裡的感覺…
-完全沒有無障礙盪鞦韆 -也許設計還沒確定
還有甜點並不是完整的一餐
佩妮，我們得走了，快點
別忘了這是為了梅樂蒂，好嗎？
嫑把自己的情緒帶進來
佩妮，佩妮
-妳得出來，我們要遲到了 -不是妳打不開門嗎？
-快出來 -快出來，快點，佩妮
佩妮，快點，妳去車上把鞋子穿起來，好
好
我也愛妳，小寶貝
好了，我們不…先別弄了
快點，可以幫我把東西拿出去嗎？
放進車裡
愛妳喔，小瓢蟲
又要回去了
衹能看五分鐘
眞的得出發了，今天已經錯過公車了
佩妮
快進去，快上車
你在幹嘛？
梅樂蒂，怎麼了？
妳還好嗎？讓我看
梅樂蒂，發生什麼事了？
奧利…奧利
拜託
妳要多註意妳的餐桌，妳會撞倒…
眞是亂糟糟
妳害我們要遲到了
妳看，地上都是水
夠了，停下來
我不想聽
好嗎？
天啊
（身心障礙者停車位識別證）
抱歉我對妳大吼
這樣不公平
我情緒失控了，抱歉，梅樂蒂
（抱歉、爸、你的、問題）
這不是妳的錯，好嗎？
現在他又想講話了嗎？
（你、不、聽）
我應該把奧利的魚缸放在更高的櫃子上
太遲了
（裡面、然後、出來、跳）
乖女兒，妳有在聽嗎？我說我很抱歉
梅樂蒂
拜託嫑…
你們好
-是小薇太太 -你們好
糟糕，你們麻煩大了
-嗨，小薇太太 -妳好，梅樂蒂
我有個禮物要送妳，妹妹
我們快來不及了，上學要遲到了
我不會拖太久，我告訴你們我找到了什麼
好幾箱舊衣服、帽子和羽毛條
萬聖節的完美配件，你何時要來拿？
-我們晚一點會回來 -好吧
-那快出發吧 -好
-你還在等什麼？ -好的
-祝妳上學愉快，梅樂蒂 -謝謝妳，小薇太太
-好，註意安全 -好
-好的 -我站遠一點了
這好看的南瓜要給小美女
再見，梅樂蒂
好，出發了
《聽見顏色的女孩》
來吧
快點
這是我的學校
不…不，不是那裡
我們的教室在這邊的組合屋
走吧，快點
在字母中…
嗨，抱歉，大家好
嗨，梅樂蒂，早安
-我們還沒開始 -好，抱歉
-嗨，蘇，抱歉 -嗨，梅樂蒂
我們又錯過公車了，大家早
-早安，梅樂蒂 -好，再見，我也會想妳的
好了，一、二、三，看我這邊
卡爾，麻煩你專心看這裡
-還有威利 -好
這裡是H四-六
打從幼稚園開始，我就在這間教室上課
我過去七年的老師都是同一個人
我就像花枝辛普森
來
-她是瑪麗亞 -給妳看
我們是老朋友了
-準備好了嗎？大家準備好了嗎？ -大家都準備好了
第一個字母是什麼？
梅樂蒂，妳要繼續看嗎？
讓我們驕傲地大聲唱出來
還是要繼續聽有聲書？
是嗎？好
A
你們可以唱得更大聲
一、二、三
A
天啊
非常好
A的手語要怎麼比？
E、F、G…
（改編自莎倫德蕾珀的小說）
如果在這裡，但…
好，各位…
喬蒂
神啊，祢在嗎？
是我，瑪格麗特
我沒辦法等到兩點，神啊
到時就要開始跳舞了
我想要的事物
新潮的衣服
胸部大一點
月經來
有男生喜歡我
能自己上睫毛膏，不把眼睛挖出來
我想要的很多
我能把耳機拿下來嗎？
-A、B、C… -拿下來囉
嗨
我是凱瑟琳，很高興認識妳
（訪客）
妳在聽什麼書？
我能看嗎？
天啊
我超愛這本書
（《神啊，祢在嗎？》，茱蒂布倫著）
妳之前聽過嗎？
往上看代表「對」嗎？
我懂了
這本書很讚
我最愛瑪格麗特和珍妮去買衛生棉那一段
但她們看到認識的男生在収銀檯就逃跑了
妳最愛哪一段？
A、B、C、D、E…我們回到A
把手放低一點試試看
這是A，好嗎？
-你都有在聽嗎？ -這樣做
把一個放上去，好嗎？
這樣比較有效嗎？
派對嗎？
諾曼的慶生會
好
妳覺得瑪格麗特為什麼 要對菲利浦在派對上和她接吻的事說謊？
（酷）
因為她想要耍酷
沒錯
的確是
太棒了
梅樂蒂是很棒的學生
她很貼心
我的總結在第十頁 但簡而言之，她的表現超乎我的預期
謝謝妳，太好了，畢勒斯老師
這是我們設計的個人學習計畫
-請大家看第十頁 -謝謝
不好意思，我有個疑問
-有疑問儘管說 -好
布魯克斯先生
如果梅樂蒂的表現超乎預期 為什麼不能把標準提高？
查克
以梅樂蒂的能力來看，她表現很好
她很聽話
-她熟記上課的流程 -好
-她有抱怨過嗎？ -從沒抱怨過
她很喜愛畢勒斯老師
衹是…她展現出極大的好奇心
她在家常看紀錄片
她…她很愛她的望遠鏡
我們也常去博物館
梅樂蒂和你在一起的時候一定很開心
但…不衹如此，安騰路奇老師
衹是…
她熱愛學習
我們從她的眼神中看得出來
我衹是…不知道能不能…
布魯克斯先生，我們是根據標準評估 來設計個人學習計畫
不是看孩童的眼神
加納老師的意思是…
這…要客觀看待自己女兒的極限相當困難
-對吧？ -當然，對
好，那我們就繼續看一下…
當然…
評估衹能告訴我們她成功的可能性
而不是她最終成功與否 或為什麼無法成功
布魯克斯先生，我在做一個計畫…
這位是雷伊小姐
她是大學的學生
博士後研究生
她今天是來觀摩的
對，我眞的認為…這對梅樂蒂有幫助…
很抱歉我遲到了，抱歉，眞的很抱歉
我小女兒的幼稚園有事要處理
-嗨，我是黛安 -嗨，我是雷伊博士
-謝謝妳加入我們 -謝謝
-那… -老公
她其實是大學的學生
好，我覺得我們必須討論這件事
我們的女孩還好嗎？
你得到兩個
一、二
-查克，可以去應門嗎？ -好
慘了
也許有人來討糖了
老實說，女兒們，我看起來如何？
「老實」和「屎」押韻耶
好吧，她沒說錯
你很帥，爸爸
-謝謝妳 -愛因斯坦應該沒有穿實驗袍
萬聖節快樂
布魯克斯先生
-妳好 -嗨
-不好意思 -沒關係
我是凱瑟琳雷伊
-對，我記得，妳好嗎？ -對
我很好，我們都沒機會好好談一談
黛安，妳要出來一下嗎？
-好 -大…便
如何？這樣很好玩
-妳知道我是誰嗎？ -我知道
-還記得凱瑟琳嗎？ -當然，在個人學習計畫會議上見過
-我是黛安 -很高興又見面了
我也很高興，怎麼了嗎？
-我想和你們談談梅樂蒂… -糟糕
還有我在做的計畫
好
我想帶梅樂蒂離開原本的班級
讓她加入一般班級裡
妳想帶梅樂蒂離開特教班嗎？
對，一週一個下午
不是特別不同的課程
衹是六年級的課程
我們花了很久時間，才讓梅樂蒂找到
一個重視她、尊重她且安全的環境
妳很年輕，還沒有孩子，衹是…
我們還沒準備好冒險參加妳的計畫
這也許是她證明自己的機會，黛安
為什麼要證明自己？
-冷靜點 -要證明什麼？我沒有…
我不…我衹是覺得不放心
如果你們不介意，我會給你們一些文件
你們可以放心，威利的父母已經同意了
她去上課時，我會全程待在旁邊
我不確定
我衹是為了梅樂蒂著想
-謝謝，謝謝妳過來一趟 -一、二…
-非常感謝，萬聖節快樂 -萬聖節快樂
衹是…
別擔心，完全不用擔心
好，出發吧，準備好了嗎？
該去討糖了
-走吧 -準備好了嗎？走吧
餅乾糖霜已經凝固了
走吧
十、九…
我愛萬聖節
七、六、五…
衹有這時候大家才該一直盯著我看
二、一
發射吧
你們確定不用幫她嗎？
不用，她行的
很好，妳做得很好
她每年都會像在摸狗一樣摸我的頭
我哪天一定會咬她一口
嗨，梅樂蒂，要嫑賽跑？
我愛的事物…
-她說什麼？親愛的 -她說好
輪椅高速行駛的聲音
-閃亮洋裝… -我會在這裡
我每年萬聖節的裝扮都最酷
迴文
幽靈蛛，因為書上說牠們很友善…
快來追我，媽
-我的家人… -衝啊，梅樂蒂
當然還有外太空
瑪麗亞
梅樂蒂
來抓我
女孩們，看這件
-看來梅樂蒂要這件了 -我想要那件
-但是… -我喜歡
佩妮，我說過會給妳一條羽毛條
大家好，我回來了
-嗨，妳好 -妳們在玩什麼？
媽，快看，我有羽毛條
-沒錯 -拿去樓上
-穿上妳閃亮鞋子 -還好嗎？
-好嗎？ -閃亮鞋子
我…我以為 你們會在萬聖節之前來拿這些東西
但我想說你們一定很忙，於是我就來了
-對，她就來了 -好
對，沒關係
她們倆隨時都能玩穿搭
-再說，東西都要積灰塵了 -嗨，老婆
我把東西放到妳的房間
意大利麵嗎？
-妳覺得如何？ -很好啊
我看過凱瑟琳帶來的計畫文件
我…對…我說過那太冒險了
-這些是餅乾嗎？ -對
-萬聖節 -對，自己拿一些吧
-那是昨天烤的餅乾 -謝謝
這是梅樂蒂學校的東西嗎？
這構想眞好
一般的六年級班級？
-小梅，妳一定會很喜歡 -我們還沒討論
-我們其實討論過了 -妳會學到歷史…
我不認為我們打算這麼做
數學、社會
和同年紀的同學一起上課
-天啊，太好了 -對
-小薇，這要交由父母來決定 -很好，「她想要」
我知道妳想要，這是當然
我也會想參加，這太棒了
小薇，這要由父母決定
是沒錯
我們還沒…幫幫我
-好 -好吧…好吧
-還有待討論 -好，我想…我該走了
我該走了
謝謝妳送了那些漂亮的洋裝
為什麼你要害我變成壞人？
我哪有讓妳變成壞人？
-沒有，我哪有？ -我們討論過了
父母都覺得要保護孩子
衹是這樣而已
「公、平」
不公平
好，不公平
妳要怎麼做？
聽我說
別人必須照顧妳一輩子
妳總有一天要學會，就算別人幫妳擦屁股
也不代表妳都要聽他們的
好嗎？
好，妳可以的
東西就放在外面，她知道
-你認眞嗎？ -沒有
我討厭的事物
法式魚骨編髮
棉褲
鞋帶
德式酸菜…
早安
歌劇…
妳好嗎？
組合屋教室…
天氣眞好
被忽略
妳睡得好嗎？
嗨，起床了
快點起來，聽著，得起床了
快點
今天要上學，快點
（不、想要）
梅樂蒂
拜託
梅樂蒂，拜託嫑這樣，今天別這樣
（我、想要、新、學校）
妳行行好
（拜託、讓媽、知道）
好，好吧，但我…那我也要再睡五分鐘
妳醒了嗎？
抱歉，我的打呼聲吵醒妳了嗎？
拜託嫑掙扎
好，好了
坐好了，好嗎？
好了，拜託
好喔，現在要絕食抗議了
拜託喔，小梅
（不、學校） （不、吃）
也許我們應該讓她去六年級班級
誰會幫她翻課本？
誰能帶她去上廁所？
不知道，但至少她能上課
好
你從沒像我一樣對抗過那些人
之後一個不註意 他們就會把孩子塞回融合教育體系裡
也許這不是壞事
也許他們能屏棄特教
花錢買足球球衣
「我們不需要特教老師」
這樣眞的…感覺不對
（求求妳）
好吧
好吧，讓她去吧
如果大家把她丟在教室後面，完全不理她
還有惡霸會欺負她、讓她哭 你就要収拾殘局
我是不知道妳怎麼想…
但這位汀明老師…
他能有妳這個學生眞的很幸運
（史普汀小學） （流星）
（為什麼要學習歷史？）
他們不知道會怎麼樣
他們甚至不知道地球是不是平的
（二零零二年教育家獎） （瓦勒斯汀明）
他們可能從地球邊緣飛出去
他們那時不知道
所以我們才要學習
為什麼要學習歷史？
為什麼？
為什麼要學習歷史？蘿絲
為未來做好準備
為什麼要學習歷史？羅德尼
為未來做好準備，阿汀老師
大家昨晚應該都有預習吧？
聽起來不太妙
-沒有 -好吧，隨堂小考
-被你們逃過一劫 -嗨
-快進來，請進
-嗨，你好嗎？ -你們想必就是…來自H四-六班級的訪客
-沒錯 -沒錯
嗨，我是凱瑟琳
-很高興認識你 -嗨，我是瓦勒斯汀明
這兩位是誰？
他是威利
-這位是… -她…她是梅樂蒂
好，教室後面還有一些位子
有人今天缺席，所以有位子空著
我們就坐中間吧，才看得到你
-嗨 -好
可以挪一下桌椅嗎？謝謝大家
過來後面，過來，別害怕，梅樂蒂
你好
嗨
-好了 -我已經蓄勢待發
兩位女生，能不能挪一下位子 讓她能坐進去？
太棒了，梅樂蒂，對吧？剛剛好
威利，先嫑跟女生講話了
謝謝你
坐在我旁邊
好的
能坐進去嗎？好
我沒忘了我們的隨堂小考
聽好了
答對第一個問題，就能得到…一千分好了
一千分？
根據你們的課本，第一位「 發現」美國的歐洲人是誰？
這題簡單，拜託
-喬蒂 -克里斯多福哥倫布
錯了，眞遺憾
不是克里斯多福哥倫布
有其他人要回答嗎？
羅德尼，我以為這題很簡單
我衹是想說何不把機會留給別人 阿汀老師
好，後面的同學
應該是梅樂蒂吧？
萊夫艾瑞克森
很好
汀明老師，她其實什麼話都沒說耶
謝謝妳，克萊兒
對，沒錯，梅樂蒂
妳能回答接下來的問題
萊夫艾瑞克森是哪裡人？
「冰」…
-好無聊，好無聊 -威利
好，「ㄉ」…
-妳好壞喔 -「島」
太棒了
冰島，他…他從冰島航行來的
別介意
荷蘭東印度公司
有個很瘋狂的故事 是關於亨利哈德遜的船員叛變
今晚要預習，明天才能一起討論
下課了
-祝大家一天開心 -你覺得六年級怎麼樣？
感覺…感覺很臭
感覺…好吧，謝謝你告訴我
雷伊小姐，麻煩借一步說話，好嗎？
妳該去交些朋友
當然可以，妳有辦法在課堂上舉手發言 就有辦法交到朋友
好嗎？妳可以的
-蘿絲，妳要去嗎？ -威利
妳寫數學作業了嗎？
寫了，但…
好，我媽要載我們，動作快點
他們向我保證這不會干擾課堂
確實不會
我們要假定她有學習能力 我保證你會相當驚豔
嗨
威利，過來一下好嗎？
（鞋子）
「鞋子」，抱歉，我…
（酷）
謝謝，妳的鞋子也…
也很好看
你們倆之後每週都會來上這堂課嗎？
-蘿絲 -眞棒
-妳要去嗎？ -好
-走吧 -改天見
-快…快，跑起來 -快點，我們走
-用跑的，她眞的會殺了我，快點 -抱歉
梅樂蒂，要走了嗎？
以前從沒做過的事
和全六年級生一起上課，達成
怎麼了？
答對大家都不知道的問題，達成
什麼？
妳竟敢這麼做？
和蘿絲聊天，達成…達成
自己洗澡
也許改天吧
-能這樣不就太好了嗎？ -來
-但我媽喜歡這樣 -還好嗎？
我偶爾會逗她開心
停火
暫停…暫停
我一直忘記告訴妳
大學有一個星際物體展覽
想去嗎？
好？嫑？也許？
朋友？好，妳可以帶一個朋友去
妳要我打給瑪麗亞的媽媽嗎？
蘿絲是誰？
這件如何？
-眞是醜爆了 -梅樂蒂，妳得挑一件
佩妮
妳朋友很快就會到了
這件呢？
天啊
再過去一點，什麼？
佩妮，快點
-褲襪？ -對，終於
眞的嗎？不行，嫑穿褲襪，太不方便了
我們要時常上下車，還要上廁所
公廁
-那就選好看一點的衣服 -我知道了
-裙子 -穿這件
我們要快點準備好
如何？穿上衣和長褲
座頭鯨的英文名字是取自
牠背側突起的形狀
-嗨，布魯克斯太太，我是蘿絲史賓瑟 -嗨
我把我的腳踏車停在坡道底
這樣可以嗎？
可以，歡迎
請進
梅樂蒂，妳的…
蘿絲來了
-嗨 -嗨
每隻鯨魚的底部都有獨特的圖形…
要嫑把電視關掉？小寶貝
妳也有上…
如此便能辨認出每一隻鯨魚
-汀明老師的課嗎？ -對
-他的課如何？ -嗨
-妳想當哪一個玩具？ -天啊
嗨，妳就是蘿絲吧
-對 -嗨，很高興見到妳
-這是怎麼一回事？ -爸爸，我們在玩
紅色的消防車有梯子耶，好酷
要救樹上的貓咪嗎？
佩妮，妳不能穿這樣
不行，回來
好了，我們兩分鐘後就要出發了
妳還好嗎？
-佩妮 -那就好
我們很快就會出發了嗎？
-對 -聽說那裡很有趣
蘿絲，我們… 我們很開心妳和我們一起出來玩
沒問題
我媽說有些小孩不一樣
但我們也不該不把他們當正常人看待
什麼叫…什麼叫正常呢？
-我正常嗎？ -不行…不行
妳正常嗎？我覺得正常是…
媽媽，嫑嚇跑人家
妳們三個覺得如何？
要來一趟小…太空冒險還是…
媽，我想過去那裡
好，我們會去那裡
-去看那個，好 -在那裡
妳知道很多太空的知識嗎？
眞不錯
妳一定很常看電視
我不是要酸妳，衹是我媽不准我耍廢
我週一有數學家教
週二要去學西洋棋，週三要…
星雲是一種星際雲…
確切來說是分子雲
因為密度很高，會遮掩住可見光的波長
星球之間的距離…
大家以為我做不到，但其實我做得到的事
逗大家笑
接力賽跑
算代數
自己吃飯
在不眨眼比賽中打敗別人
嗨，蘿絲
妳可以記得嫑忽略梅樂蒂嗎？
抱歉
我剛剛跟她在一起 但我看到我朋友，想過來打個招呼
我能理解
我知道大家一興奮，難免會跑掉
但別忘了梅樂蒂沒辦法像妳一樣 想去哪就去哪
等下，你在說那個特教生嗎？
我明白妳想跟朋友一起玩
我想說的是 也許妳可以想辦法讓她加入妳們
好嗎？
她在哪？
儘管在宇宙的尺度上 我們衹是微不足道的生物
但我們已經在宇宙的小角落建立了秩序
我們已經設法了解一些宇宙的運作模式
甚至也許在不久之後就能找到完整的理論
如果眞是如此…
梅樂蒂
聽著，小梅，不能突然跑走
妳明白嗎？
年少時期的我們不怕探尋為什麼…
他是史蒂芬霍金
他跟妳有點像，對吧？
不像嗎？
（講話）
「講話」
但我不認同
天啊，我哄佩妮哄了好久
-小梅睡了嗎？ -對
這是什麼？
「動動手指，用這個創新產品講話」
「加入大家的談話」
「輔助說話器」
這簡稱AAC
輔助溝通系統
聽起來是病人在用的東西
-她十二歲了，小黛 -我知道
她不需要玩盪鞦韆
她需要和朋友一起玩
她想要和朋友講電話，聊男生的八卦
我知道
-要多少錢？ -這筆錢可不小
-多少？ -一萬七千元
這還衹是裝置本身的價格 不包含附加設備
-保險呢？ -沒辦法
我在電話上跟某個人講了兩小時
你有解釋嗎？要講到他們答應為止
我解釋過了
還苦苦哀求
大吼大叫
又對自己大吼的事道歉
還對我道歉的語氣不佳道歉 最後那個女生說
她要下班了，叫我下週一再打給她
現在我不知道到底該怎麼辦
我該怎麼辦？
你應該要拿出殺手鐧
對，好，好
早安，這裡是畢蘭德保險公司，請稍後
感謝致電畢蘭德保險公司
嗨
嗨，能為妳效勞嗎？
應該沒辦法
妳的…妳的主管怎麼稱呼？
-懷特太太 -好
-妳的襯衫眞好看 -謝謝妳
那懷特太太的主管怎麼稱呼？
-懷特太太的主管？ -對
-波茲先生 -好
但他是這間公司的副總
他其實不常處理…
「萊納波茲」，我看到了，非常感謝妳
-我去那邊等 -他通常不處理理賠事宜
這不是…
妳…妳要在那裡等嗎？
對，我在這裡等他
你的辦公室外頭有一位婦女…
-告訴他我可以等 -她可以等
沒有，她…
她…應該…
她開始織毛線了
妳覺得這雙如何？
「不酷」
請問有其他顏色的嗎？
她應該想找更新潮一點的款式
她腳掌內旋，衹能穿這雙
好
嗨，妳死賴著不走嗎？
-對，結果還算順利 -是妳媽
他們想評估她的狀況
他們付錢讓她講話前
大概是想確認她有話要說吧
妳有一點緊張嗎？
好，我已經檢測過千百回了
很輕鬆，梅樂蒂，妳可以的
接下來要這麼做
我們把那些緊張的情緒和不安的感覺
放進一個盒子裡
然後放到很高的架子上
全都消失了
好
現在…
我要問妳一些問題
妳要盡可能回答
天啊，我壓力好大
為什麼他們老是要拖這麼久？
不會有事的
（番茄）
以下哪一個和其他不一樣？
（氣球、草莓、櫻桃）
（香蕉）
和其他不一樣，和其他不一樣
好，番茄很噁心
氣球不能吃
草莓外面有種籽
櫻桃有菓核
香蕉是黃色的
眞正的問題應該是 哪一個才是她認為正確的答案？
哪一個？
也許是香蕉？
氣球，不是，是香蕉
氣球，香蕉，氣球，氣球，香蕉
（氣球）
為什麼我不選香蕉？
（不、吃）
因為你不能吃氣球
（不、吃）
太好了，太順利了
再試一題
布魯克斯夫婦
-嗨，謝謝 -請進
-請順便把門帶上 -好
謝謝
你好，這裡是休利醫生辦公室
抱歉久等了
等一下要去看電影嗎？
好，太好了
好，能稍等一下嗎？我去確認一下
我目前沒辦法核准輔助說話器的補助
因為她的認知結果…
確實是很低，但…
（不）
（生氣）
（聽、我）
（聽）
我知道她的檢測結果…我們之前也談過
（需要、講話）
我明白
我知道妳有很多話想說
我們會證明這點的
沒事的
我爸認為任何問題都能解決
-但我和我媽知道事實並非如此 -等等我
凱瑟琳沒那麼神通廣大
能一瞬間讓問題消失
不好意思，這裡是教育系嗎？
-對 -謝謝
-先生，請問一下 -什麼事？
嗨，你知道要去哪找凱瑟琳雷伊嗎？
-爸 -梅樂蒂？
-布魯克斯先生 -嗨
-嗨
-還好嗎？ -對
抱歉突然來找妳
驚喜，我們請醫生幫我們填這個
這是申請AAC裝置保險補助的評估表
讓我看
不知道妳有沒有聽過 這是一種輔助說話器
他們告訴我們，這樣衹是在浪費時間
才怪
-我也認同 -對
但我們想說，也許妳在大學裡
也許認識一些能夠幫忙的人
「…專門研究或專業」
妳認識兒童醫院的人或是…
布魯克斯先生，上面寫了 需要具有相關專門研究或專業的博士
但沒說一定要醫學博士
好，就是說啊，我就知道
好，我看
「病患有學習能力」，確認無誤
「病患理解複雜概念」
當然
「病患能遵從多個步驟的指示」 確認無誤
凱瑟琳雷伊博士簽名
好了
我錯估了
我要用輔助說話器做的事
打電話給我所有的朋友
打斷某個人說話
打惡作劇電話給小薇太太
-在全班面前報告… -走吧
背誦詩句
對我的鄰居大吼
到得來速點餐
用呼叫器
唱卡拉OK
-要求晚一點上床睡覺… -有個快遞外送員…
向凱瑟琳道謝
叫佩妮嫑再偷我的唇釉
我告訴他：「你必須把包裹給我
他們已經等很久了
這樣你們才能趕快拿到」
這樣妳才能跟別人說話
我好激動…我眞的…
（輔助說話器六零零零）
我看起來一定很誇張，他一定覺得我瘋了
-但我說：「你一定要給我」 -謝謝
我假裝是妳
這樣是詐騙耶
快看
-快看，妳看 -好
看到沒？妳有看到嗎？
好，我來看該怎麼操作
-「設定系統」 -這個顏色很讚吧？
「第…」，好
等下，我們要先設定偏好的聲音
好，等下，我要先看一下指示
「文字視窗 文字視窗是輔助說話器的建構模塊
可以使用內建文字庫 也可以自行輸入文字」
快看，這有…可以放音樂、玩遊戲
-輔助說話器 -眞的很酷耶
不然我們也可以隨便亂試
好，來看
「設定，聲音設定」
-聲音設定，選擇你的聲音 -好
別動，讓姊姊選，讓姊姊點
英語
不對，是美國英語
英語
-你好 -你好
轉換成美國英語，孩童聲音
-你好 -嫑
-我喜歡這個 -是嗎？
好了，不應該是我選 妳選吧，是妳的聲音
好
我的天啊
她能夠發出聲音了
梅樂蒂？
大家在嗎？
妳還好嗎？
就是這個嗎？
爸爸，奧利之前跳出魚缸了
聽著
妳的聲音眞美
眞的
爸爸
好…好
-妳的聲音眞好聽 -天啊
讓我看
-還有其他句子嗎？ -對，還有
你好，今天過得好嗎？
妳覺得如何？
謝謝詢問
讓他聽聽那一句
我有辦法
為什麼要學習歷史？
-康納 -為未來做好準備
但為什麼要學習歷史？
貝絲？
學習歷史，才能為未來做好準備
但為什麼要學習歷史？
學習歷史，才能為未來做好準備
好酷
讓它說別的話
等下，是電腦在說話嗎？
妳不應該沒舉手就發言，梅樂蒂
好，威利，好，謝謝
好，各位，說話的並不是電腦
是梅樂蒂在說話
天啊，梅樂蒂，這個新裝置眞酷炫
但威利說得對
我點到妳的時候才能發言
好
大多人應該都知道 我負責帶領益智問答代表隊
很棒吧？好
為益智問答代表隊歡呼一下
今年的這個時候相當刺激
我們會選拔這一季的代表隊成員
我們很快就會舉辦徵選
好好考慮一下，檢視自己的實力
你們有沒有能耐 成為史普汀益智問答代表隊的一員？
有
不好意思，什麼？我聽不太到
-什麼？ -有
好耶，如何才能加入？
好，好
我們等著看，徵選時就知道了
好，現在回到正題
我們學到了美國開國元勛
喬治洗衣機和湯瑪斯泡棉
在走廊上和我打過招呼的男生
-威利… -煩耶，康納
康納…
好，妳要參加益智問答代表隊的徵選嗎？
對，那很好玩，而且我媽叫我一定要參加
眞是老媽的乖女兒
我不知道叫什麼的五年級生
羅德尼，一次而已
但他也許是想說「回憶」，而不是梅樂蒂
妳好
妳今天過得好嗎？
嗨，梅樂蒂，妳的裝置很酷喔
我想要…
上廁所
謝謝妳告訴我們喔
-好，我們要走了 -我想問…
回頭見，蘿絲
我之後再跟妳聊，好嗎？
一切還順利嗎？
我很開心
謝謝詢問
「妳很開心，謝謝詢問」？
我來看這些選項
「我很傷心，謝謝詢問
我很興奮，謝謝詢問
我很餓，謝謝詢問」
妳就衹有這些感覺嗎？
拜託喔
來看還能讓它講出什麼話
「你的鞋子眞好看，去哪買的？
我喜歡這件裙子」
什麼…所有話題都和衣服有關嗎？
「嗨，哩厚」
「嗨，哩厚」，妳想講這句話嗎？
好
「很殺耶」，現在大家都這樣說嗎？
「儍眼貓咪」，根本沒有這種詞
你們在做什麼？
凱瑟琳拿來了
一張梅樂蒂想說的詞彙清單
「我有全天下最棒的爸爸」
讓我試試，「我有…」
等下…等下
我認為…等一下，放來聽聽
我有全天下最棒的爸爸
也許哪一天會派上用場
好，這個是什麼？
親愛的，妳怎麼會想講這些詞？
別這樣，她想講什麼都行
我們不用控制她
先看過再說吧
-妳看 -好
-來，看一下 -好
「放屁」，眞的嗎？
「屁勒」
「屁股」，這個詞其實不錯
屁股
我做了什麼？好，等下，我知道了
「閉嘴
你這…王八」…
在這之間，還不像高中
有人知道會是什麼樣子嗎？
有想法就說沒關係
有人想發言嗎？
這是一場歷險
未知的世界
有些探險家就是有這種感覺
喬蒂，請說
妳看
嗨，哩厚
抱歉，梅樂蒂，我得進去了
妳的鞋子好可愛
說什麼？
我能幫妳準備益智問答比賽
梅樂蒂，感謝妳的好意
但我覺得…我覺得我不需要妳的幫助
（冷知識）
冷知識，一般題
速度最快的陸地生物是什麼？
希奧多蓋索的筆名是什麼？
（蘇斯博士、史丹李）
上面還有什麼主題？
好，妳想要往後一點嗎？
小心點
-歡迎 -嗨
-妳好嗎？ -很好
-謝謝你們來 -不會
妳們可以在…
在…在那裡
先等一下，地毯…
-不用了，媽，沒關係 -等一下就好
太棒了
-需要幫忙嗎？ -不用，我來就好
衹要…一次放一塊，這樣就可以前進了
好
好了，往前吧
很好
好，往前
停
我把這個搬走
好
最後一個
往前一格
往前，停
太好了，做得好
-好 -很棒
那我就不打擾妳們了
-等下見，謝謝妳 -別客氣
妳們好好玩吧
抱歉，我媽是個潔癖狂
要開始練題目了嗎？
好
冷知識
（挑選主題）
一般題
美國眾議員的一般任期為多久？
兩年？
四年？
六年？
七年？
兩年
正確
地球上最深的地方在哪裡？
庫魯伯亞拉洞穴？
馬里亞納海溝？
阿留申海溝？
姆魯洞穴？
誰聽過這些地方啊？
（康納）
-康納 -康納？
他沒有他想像的那麼聰明
他人很好
妳喜歡他
沒錯，妳想要親他
有何不可？沒關係，他很可愛
他是有點自負，但人其實不差
我永遠不可能和別人接吻
這不…
這很難說
話說妳為什麼會變成這樣？
抱歉，我不應該…我不應該這麼說，抱歉
妳不用回答
我有腦性麻痺
這種病癥是因為大腦內
控制行動和說話的區域受損
會痛嗎？
其他人
其他有這種病癥的人嗎？
他們會盯著妳
他們會緊盯著妳
冷知識，一般題
制憲會議在哪一年舉行？
-一七八七年 -一四九二年？
一七七…正確
（益智問答徵選）
這一百題是來自華盛頓特區 益智問答總部的官方題目
如同正式比賽，提示問題衹會唸一次
每個答案也衹會唸一次
是誰？康納，你可以去開門嗎？
好
每個問題都有四個答案
可想而知，就是A、B、C、D
我們衹會根據個人的成績
挑選益智問答代表隊的成員
嗨
梅樂蒂，嗨，有什麼事嗎？
益智問答代表隊
但是汀明老師，她是弱…
克萊兒，夠了
抱歉，我是說…她是特教班的
-她可以參加這種比賽嗎？ -那又如何？
妳怕她考比妳高分嗎？
雷伊小姐今天有陪妳來嗎？
我來了，我在這，嗨
她跑很快
妳知道這不是社團吧？
妳能理解嗎？
這是要去比賽的代表隊，好嗎？
我們衹會選出四位參賽的正式選手 和兩位替補選手
我不脆弱
好，我拿答案卷給妳
好，大家註意，看我這裡，麻煩認眞聽
這很重要
好，我希望大家盡力答題
如果覺得累了，或答題速度變慢
就想想自己多麼辛苦準備
一切努力就看這一刻了
好，開始吧
第一題
哪一個國家的人口最多？
第七十七題
《戰地鐘聲》的作者是誰？
A、葛楚史坦？
B、厄尼斯特海明威？
C、羅伯特喬丹？
D、辛克萊路易斯？
第七十八題…
七、八、一、二、三、四…
好
五、六、七、八、一
應該可以
也許跳《瑪卡蓮娜》才能成功
梅樂蒂，嗨
妳們知道梅樂蒂有腦性麻痺嗎？
-知道 -當然
失落黃金城那一題，妳寫什麼？
我說了是香巴拉
-是黃金國 -才不是
-是香巴拉 -妳…
-是黃金國 -才怪
-是黃金國 -黃金國
聽到沒？黃金國 我們說的才對，少數服從多數
妳輸了
-好喔，我看到我媽了，走吧 -找藉口閃人喔，好
-天啊 -妳今天好憤怒，眞不知道為什麼
也許妳穿那件衣服自信爆表
-妳好像沒穿一樣 -天啊
妳今天來參加考試很棒
如果妳想要 妳可以和其他人一樣參加徵選
喂
梅樂蒂，這裡
快來，快點
走了…走了
妳認識那個人嗎？
上下上下…孩子們，大家好
喂，我要開始跳舞了
快點，快點，走吧
我不痛苦
什麼意思？
我有腦性麻痺
-這種病癥是因為… -我剛剛不是這個意思
大腦內控制行動…
梅樂蒂，快點
和說話的區域受損
我們得走了，快點，走吧
小梅
週末要去逛購物中心嗎？
快點
我穩進益智問答代表隊了
那當然
妳鬥志高昂
我那雙閃亮鞋子就是在這裡買的
天啊，我本來要走去手扶梯
我根本沒想到妳是身障人士，就…
很好笑吧
眞不敢相信崔德今天開幕
他們還請了DJ
天啊，隊伍排好長
我有辦法
是什麼？
等一下
（崔德盛大開幕式） （請由此排隊）
不好意思，請問我們能進去嗎？
妳們要和其他人一樣排隊
但我姊姊
衹能出院幾個小時
她眞的很想進去逛逛
-這由不得我決定 -老兄，讓她進去啦
-我也希望我可以 -對，讓她進去
讓她進去，我們不介意
-稍等一下 -她坐輪椅耶
拜託，認眞嗎？
-好，快進去 -眞的嗎？
-謝謝，眞的很謝謝你 -快點，快進去，拜託
-那我們就進去了 -謝謝，抱歉
天啊，妳喜歡大的嗎？
把眼睛閉上，才能沖掉
「嫑」是什麼意思？ 好，我保證我不會…
妳看起來很美
拜託
很酷
這個呢？好
-我能咬一口嗎？ -不行
很好，很好，快上，上啊
天啊
早安，史普汀全體同學
我是汀明老師，快速宣佈一下
今年的益智問答徵選結果相當出色
非常感謝各位的參與
這是很艱難的決定
但數字不會說謊
現在話不多說 我將公佈二零零三年益智問答代表隊人選
-要公佈了嗎？ -對
好
代表學校參加比賽的四位學生如下
首先是考到八十九分的蘿絲史賓瑟
為蘿絲鼓掌
接下來是考到九十一分的羅德尼威爾許
-好耶 -我就知道
-恭喜 -我就知道，我最強了
-我是最棒的 -你之前又不知道
為克萊兒威斯特掌聲鼓勵
克萊兒
最後一位拿下了最高分九十七分
順道一提，這刷新了學校紀錄
請下鼓聲
康納貝茲
我成功了，太棒了
恭喜我們的代表隊
加油，史普汀流星隊
好
在這世上我不理解的事…
好，梅樂蒂，來，我把這個掛上去
戰爭…
祝妳有個愉快的夜晚
為什麼許多事都這麼困難…
梅樂蒂，妳有聽到嗎？ 我進了益智問答代表隊
心電感應的原理…
我以為我進不了，但我成功了
克萊兒和喬蒂也會…
同情…
有點搞笑
為什麼大部份人都對我視而不見
法式熱吻
為什麼有人愛吃美乃滋
「沒錯，我最聰明，我進代表隊了
我的成績最高分」 我們就說：「沒人在乎，康納」
那個人應該給個解釋
-媽的，妳說得沒錯，抱歉罵了髒話 -等一下，等下
抱歉，但我們又不知道事情的來龍去脈
我們知道
梅樂蒂告訴小薇太太 她所有題目都答對了
我告訴你，事有蹊蹺
佩妮，來吃蘋菓
我要親自打給這個叫汀明的傢夥
很好
黛安，我知道妳很氣憤，但妳之前…
不想要益智問答隊
不想要
（媽、爸、聽）
不想要益智問答隊
-不想要，不想要 -我們至少要考量…
我們必須查出眞相
夠了，嫑說了
會傷害蘿絲
蘿絲？
蘿絲和這件事有何關聯？
如果妳有資格，就應該入選
妳不會半途而廢，我不會讓妳輕易放棄
對，我要找凱瑟琳幫忙
這是梅樂蒂的答案卷，這是他的解答
等下，她翻過我的辦公桌 妳翻過我的辦公桌嗎？
是沒錯，謝謝
-告訴他上面寫了什麼 -這…
就直說吧，梅樂蒂全部答對了
每題都對
什麼？
不，這不可能
等下，什麼？
以前沒這種事又不代表不可能
-但我眞的答對了啊 -不
老師不能這樣說話
我每一題都知道答案
我知道，親愛的
我應該知道這是怎麼一回事了
-我可以問問她嗎？ -當然可以
梅樂蒂
這很重要
妳要誠實回答
妳的課堂陪同人員有協助妳作答嗎？
不好意思，妳在闇示什麼？
我衹是在問問題
因為也許有時候妳覺得兩個答案都有可能
A或B，但妳看到 課堂陪同人員的筆停在某一個答案上？
聽起來不衹是在問問題
對，因為這不是詢問，而是指控
好了，各位，大家先深呼吸，冷靜一下
-我的 -對
是我的答案
-好，謝謝 -對
抱歉
其實我並不抱歉，知道為什麼嗎？
加納老師，我的女兒很正直
我不需要高學歷也看得出來
我妻子看得出來，她也看得出來
為什麼妳沒辦法？
如果她說她考了高分，那就是眞的
妳說什麼都不重要
抱歉，妳可以…妳就別說了吧
她還好嗎？一切都還好嗎？
-她沒事 -她在笑
重點是梅樂蒂拿了滿分
為什麼她沒有進益智問答代表隊？
對
老師肯定有合理的解釋
說來聽聽
我的意思是…
你們把這些孩子放進我的課堂
我完全沒受過訓練
對吧？我沒有相關專業
我不知道怎麼和你們的孩子說話
我沒有和她這種癥狀的人接觸過
我相信梅樂蒂貼心善良，我衹是…
她不衹是善良
她很聰明
她有能力
瓦勒斯，你應該有合理的解釋吧
為什麼我一定要解釋？這又不是考試
這不是用來打成績的
不是課堂活動
是課外活動的代表隊
我不認為我需要解釋 以前沒這種事，我…
我沒有改她的答案卷
就是這個詞啊
-這個詞好糟 -這又不是我創的
我就老實說好了 也許這就像是最完美的結論
不證自明，妳不需要那麼有防備心
好，好了 益智問答代表隊的成員麻煩註意聽
坐下
喬蒂，克萊兒，麻煩妳們
羅德尼，安靜，謝謝
聽著，註意聽
益智問答代表隊的人選有異動
梅樂蒂布魯克斯會參加比賽
但汀明老師…
聽我說，梅樂蒂就像其他人一樣 爭取到加入代表隊的資格
如果當中出了差錯，那也是我的錯
是我的錯
阿汀老師，這樣不合理 代表隊已經有四個人了
你不能把其中一個人換成另一個人
羅德尼
蘿絲史賓瑟會變成第一順位的替補選手
為什麼是我？我為了比賽付出這麼多努力
妳徵選的成績最低，蘿絲
-我眞的很努力唸書 -愛蓮娜和喬蒂還是能陪同代表隊參賽
如果進了決賽，也能一起去華盛頓
非常感謝大家
益智問答代表隊加油
-康納 -天啊
我們到外面談一談
好，大家
距離地區賽衹剩幾週，我們有很多事要做
大家靠過來
我看過各式各樣的老師
瓦勒斯汀明是好老師
-他在乎他的學生 -梅樂蒂也是他的學生
妳違背了他對妳的信任
妳讓他的名聲掃地
妳之後不能再要求參與他的課堂
好吧
但妳我都知道 妳一開始就不想讓我推動計畫
我很景仰妳的理念，雷伊博士
眞的
但我必須面對現實世界
那妳認為梅樂蒂生活在什麼樣的世界？
妳認為計畫結束後會發生什麼事？
那些孩子終究還是會回到特教班
我沒有錢雇用員工來照顧他們
就算有預算，還有妳幻想出來的神奇好處
之後又會如何？
更多身障孩童會搬到我的學區
他們也需要資源才能負擔他們的教育 妳有想過嗎？
老實說
謝謝妳
妳幫我想到了我寫書的主題
身心障礙不會阻礙學生發展
但學校會
（歡迎來到我們的學習花園）
我認為應該結婚的人
瑪麗亞和羅德尼
凱瑟琳和馬修派里
克萊兒和邪惡博士…
嫑玩食物
汀明老師不該結婚…
好酷
康納和我
讓我看
-我想要一個 -我也是
就算蘿絲沒有在氣我 她還是不會坐在我旁邊
特殊的人通常會被排除在外
-我沒有傷心，妳才傷心呢 -天啊
你
至少我還是能和很酷的孩子坐在一起
（史普汀小學） （流星）
小梅
益智問答代表隊…益智問答代表隊
該起床了…該起床了，瞌睡蟲
我有個驚喜要給妳
妳喜歡嗎？
老天，今天一定會很棒
應該…對，就是這裡
天啊，看這裡有多酷
這裡好酷
好耶
我們的一切努力都是為了這一刻
-為了這場比賽，把握當下，專心一志 -還好嗎？
別忘了這是妳辛苦爭取來的機會
妳可以的，好嗎？對
-梅樂蒂布魯克斯？ -對，嗨
妳好嗎？我是保羅，是舞臺經理
-嗨，保羅 -我能借用妳一點時間
帶妳參觀一下場景佈置和舞臺嗎？
-好，她可以的 -好，妳準備好了嗎？我們出發吧
這是比賽場地
你們隊會站在這裡
妳的站臺在最後面
來看吧
我們調整了高度
比較符合妳輪椅的高度
其實滿簡單的，這裡有按鈕
主持人會問問題 妳就按下正確答案相對應的按鈕
A、B、C或D
但我覺得妳會表現得很好
別告訴別人
雖然我要保持中立 堅信最強的隊伍會勝出
但妳要拿出眞本事
好嗎？打爆他們
我知道妳行的，好嗎？
謝謝
（益智問答）
麻煩所有參賽者前往後臺
你覺得呢？要嫑戴眼鏡？
我快看不到題目了，保羅
-克萊兒，拜託給我用 -嫑，那是我的
等一下，羅德尼
-看起來就像我的祖母 -不重要啦
我要告訴我祖母妳說了這句話
嫑，不
我很抱歉
沒關係，別介意
我會跟妳出去玩 衹是因為我父母答應會給我iPod
麻煩所有參賽者前往後臺
-她在那裡 -小蘿絲
-等下 -嗨，佩妮
-她在那裡，嗨 -佩妮，快過來
（廁所）
快過來
好，我們去廁所
-我們要去廁所 -好
-你能看著她嗎？好 -交給我吧，過來吧，天啊
因為我喜歡
我衹是想知道能不能讓它停在同一面
益智問答代表隊的親友團，請入座
-節目再廿分鐘就會開始 -有口香糖嗎？
妳要告訴我發生什麼事了嗎？
嫑嗎？
有時候很辛苦吧？
有腦性麻痺
好，憤怒
對，會讓妳感到憤怒
「感覺，問題」
感覺是個問題？
對誰而言？
（媽、爸、妹妹）
不會
我也愛妳
再說一次
快點
我也愛妳
我很愛妳
再說一次
快啦，再說一次
我也愛妳
（提供內嵌字幕）
來自陽光普照的沙加緬度JCMB錄影棚現場
歡迎収看加州三城益智問答地區決賽
一如往常 由《行動八號新聞》的主播主持
蘭恩金斯利
（蘭恩「國王」金斯利）
（派瑞谷小學）
初賽過後，衹剩下兩支隊伍
勝負就看這一刻
（派瑞谷對上史普汀）
廿五道題目，每題四分
差一個按鈕，命運大不同
蘭恩，告訴這些益智問答參賽者 他們能贏得什麼
現在其中一隊將能贏得
前往華盛頓特區參加全國大賽的機會
獎金高達一萬元
廢話不多說，歡迎益智問答參賽者入場
來自派瑞谷的派瑞谷小學
快出來
（派瑞谷） （五屆冠軍）
上啊，派瑞谷
還有來自艾斯特林的史普汀小學
-上吧 -往前走
-快上臺，上去吧 -他們來了
快點，上臺，笑一個，笑一個
他們來了
好
-好，好了 -好，大家安靜
大家就定位，接下來會很精彩
大家都準備好了嗎？
來了，第一題
列星頓和康科德戰役是在何年發生？
A、一七七三年？
B、一七七五年？
C、一七七六年？
或D、一八五五年？
所有人都選好了嗎？
答案是…
-B、一七七五年 -好耶
（總答對題數2，史普汀小學 總答對題數4，派瑞谷）
下一題
「矛盾語」代表什麼意思？
我不知道這個
A、一組相互矛盾的詞？
B、一段押韻的句子？
C、一種狀聲詞？
或D、無知的虛構人物？
大家都寫好了嗎？
第五題
你認識他
貨幣學者研究什麼領域？
第八題
哪位詩人曾說過
「笑聲是靈魂的語言」？
答案當然是B、巴勃羅聶魯達
好耶
第九題
第十題
第十一題
第十四題
據說哪一種品種的鯊魚體型最大？
A、大白鯊？
B、鯨鯊？ C、蛇頸龍？
-或D、巨齒鯊？ -巨齒鯊
親愛的，妳剛剛說什麼？
答案是D、巨齒鯊
第廿四題
（總答對題數七十七，派瑞谷小學）
馬丘比丘位於哪一個國家？
（總答對題數七十五，史普汀小學）
A、哥斯達黎加？
B、秘魯？
C、沙烏地阿拉伯？
或D、荷蘭？
答案是B、秘魯
很好
好棒
天啊，天啊
兩隊衹差兩分，衹剩下一題
好，最後一題
下列哪一個拉丁詞彙代表「乍看之下」？
A、「初步認定」？
B、「及時行樂」？
C、「合眾為一」？
或D、「形式上的」？
好了嗎？都好了嗎？
答案是…
A、「初步認定」
天啊
這眞是…局勢有了驚人的反轉
兩支決賽隊伍以八十三分打成平手
但衹會有一個獲勝隊伍，所以…
等我一下，等我…
等我一下，好嗎？
好的
因此我們要舉行益智問答比賽稱作
「快問快答」的環節
兩支隊伍要在卅秒內分別選出一名成員
代表你們的隊伍參加一對一問答
先答錯的那一方就輸了
而另一支隊伍就能前進全國大賽，上啊
不行，我去
-對 -好，安靜點
事關一萬元，你對自己眞有把握
-這一切的壓力很大… -各位
康納得了最高分，汀明老師說…
-不是我 -妳不能上場
你幹嘛這樣咳嗽？幹嘛？
得最高分的是梅樂蒂
我覺得他說得對，她幾乎沒有答錯
還有十秒
如果她上場，我們會看起來… 看起來很蠢，好嗎？
鬼扯，克萊兒
如果我們輸了不就更蠢？
-我們衹剩十秒，還在吵架，投票吧 -那我投梅樂蒂
時間到，兩隊，請讓代表成員到前面
現場直播將在五秒後開始 五、四、三、二…
好耶
接下來是快問快答環節
一方是來自派瑞谷小學的崔佛
另一方則是來自史普汀小學的梅樂蒂
太棒了
梅樂蒂、崔佛，準備好了嗎？
準備好了，金斯利先生
請安靜
別忘了，第一個答錯的隊伍就輸了
第一題
「六指/趾」是什麼意思？
A、複視？
B、左撇子？
C、手或腳上有六個附肢？
或D、一種癌癥？
有六個附肢為正確答案
下一題
《藍色狂想曲》的作曲家是誰？
A、莫札特？
B、蓋希文？C、貝多芬？
或D、柏林？
B為正確答案
他們倆很厲害吧
天啊
第三題
在外太空中，能遮擋其他星體光芒的 一團粉塵和氣體稱作…
A、黑洞？
B、流浪行星？
C、歐特雲？
或D、闇星雲？
答案是…
上帝啊，請賜予我力量
D、闇星雲
史普汀獲勝
恭喜，史普汀
史普汀代表隊將前往華盛頓特區
參加全國大賽
老兄，我們贏了
我要感謝今天所有參賽選手
競爭相當激烈
我們明年的益智問答比賽再會
後會有期，我是蘭恩金斯利
保重
卡
-恭喜，恭喜 -非常感謝
恭喜你們，好厲害
壓力好大
各位，請大家聽我說一下
我想說大家今天的表現都很棒
妳看她
這是團隊合作的成果，我很以你們為榮 你們也該以自己為傲
我認同
-現在我們要進軍華盛頓特區 -天啊
美國首府
面對全國的頂尖高手
好丟臉
我們務必繼續練習
為未來做好準備，好嗎？
-你們現在… -太棒了
你們現在明白我一直強調的道理了吧？
敬大家，加油，史普汀
敬妳
（歡迎來到我們的學習花園）
他們不希望我們去一般教室上課了
妳為什麼不會生氣？
如果我被困在這些假樹之間
玩衛生賓菓遊戲好幾年
我一定會一拳打爆牆壁
我應該打不到
梅樂蒂，他們會說其他孩童感到不安
說妳不聽從指示
說妳沒辦法學習
但就算這都是眞的
妳和其他人一樣有資格待在教室
我很期待去華盛頓
就算他們不想要我，他們也需要我
讓我感到雀躍期待的事
第一個是坐飛機
雖然經驗相當少，但我超愛坐飛機
妳好
第二個是住飯店
來，快進來
我很喜歡整潔乾淨的環境 還有人幫妳鋪好床
還有上全國電視節目，我眞的非常期待
我要送妳一個禮物
讓小薇太太引以為傲
成為益智問答代表隊成員
儘管我差點沒有入選
對，華盛頓特區的地鐵其實很安全
我在喬治城唸過一學期的書
如果很喜愛美國歷史 那裡是個絕佳的好去處
有很多景點可看
等下，先別看，別偷看喔
好
這給妳穿去參加益智問答全國大賽
我們要把鞋子弄得閃閃發亮，就跟妳一樣
謝謝妳
今天是個大日子
要飛去華盛頓特區
我們最好快點開始裝飾
天啊，怎麽回事？
康納，你臉上都是楓糖漿了
喂？
天啊
小姐…小姐，我們要買單
快來買單
糟了
慘了，糟糕
天啊，大家註意聽，聽我說，註意聽
羅德尼，羅德尼 別吃了，停下來…別吃了
-他們取消了我們的班機 -什麼？
他們要幫我們換成早一點的班機 但我們得趕快出發
我們得走了，快點，快 我…你們有聽懂我的話嗎？
妳媽來了，這麼早就到了
-抱歉打擾 -妳竟然這麼早
-就來接我們的最佳選手了 -對，他們要取消班機
東部有暴風雨
-快點，佩妮 -天啊
-嗨，小薇太太 -他們取消了原本班機
但汀明老師打來 我們應該能搭上早一班飛機
-謝謝妳幫忙照顧佩妮 -快來，佩妮小姐
-愛妳喔 -快點，快來，小朋友
鞋子，她的鞋子呢？
-拿好了嗎？ -好，可以，快走…快走
不知道他們能拖延多久
快點，我們可以趕上
-快點 -快點，我們得快點
我把化妝品放在洗手臺上了
沒關係，嫑緊
-快點，把門拉住…天啊 -我來…我來
如果我們錯過班機…
黛安
（電梯） （暫停使用）
-幫我開個門 -天啊
電梯不能搭
抱歉，抱歉，小心點
抱歉，很抱歉，快點，快衝
不好意思，嗨
女士，妳必須排隊
好，我們要坐六零六號班機，現在在登機了
-好，你們的護照在這裡嗎？ -謝謝妳，抱歉
-我們等很久了耶 -沒關係啦
布魯克斯…
-我得把手錶拿下來嗎？ -抱歉，我可以把這個放在這裡嗎？
-讓她走過去 -不行，她沒辦法走路
-衹有十英尺耶 -她沒辦法走
-那你們得抱著她過去 -天啊
-需要幫忙嗎？ -不用，謝謝
-快點，快 -對
對
-等下…等下 -謝天謝地
-嗨，有什麼能效勞的？ -我們到了，抱歉遲到了
布魯克斯一家
這恐怕…六零六號班機嗎？艙門已經關閉
-什麼？ -不，但我們到了
我們剛到，這是我們的班機
已經有票了，這…
-這很重要 -我能理解
對，我們和一群小朋友是同一團的 是…是益智問答代表隊
對，他們很吵鬧
-他們已經登機了嗎？ -等下，什麼？
眞的很抱歉，但妳沒辦法幫朋友加油了
-她是代表隊成員 -天啊
你可以聯繫機長或相關人員嗎？ 我們必須登機
艙門關閉後就無法開啟了 這是美國聯邦航空總署的規定
-這不一定吧 -你可以打開艙門的
我很確定，先生
-還有其他班機嗎？ -小梅，小梅，停下來
那架飛機準備要起飛了
-還有其他班機嗎？ -其他航空公司呢？
你們當然能去問問其他公司
-拜託，求求你 -飛機就停在那裡
拜託…拜託
我們眞的得去目的地
飛機就在眼前
-為什麼我們不能… -我們必須上那架飛機
我不懂，我們眞的無法理解，拜託
-我得跟著她 -好
小梅，梅樂蒂
除了梅樂蒂，其他隊員都到華盛頓特區了
安騰路奇叫我打給加納老師
加納叫我打給汀明
汀明剛剛又叫我打給安騰路奇
我眞的以為說話器可以改變一切
我無法做的事
走路
唱歌
自己刷牙
搆到很高的層架
在不被抱著的情況下上樓
自己上廁所
嗨
我做了奶昔給妳
還有及時趕上飛機 因為沒人邀請我一起吃早餐
拜託跟我說話
我愛妳
對，奶昔，沒錯
對，是意外，好
聽我說，告訴我能不能把它修好就好
對，奶昔
好
如果風乾前就開機會怎麼樣？
眞的嗎？
謝謝
佩妮，快來
來吃早餐
好，我知道妳很難過，但那個裝置很貴
不能這樣發洩怒氣
每個…
佩妮
因為妳的決定會影響到每個人
天啊，我快受不了了 好啦，拜託妳放過我，拜託
天啊，那是什麼？
天啊…佩妮
查克
查克，查克
（停下來）
停下來
這麼簡短的詞
困在我的腦袋裡
妳笑了嗎？
我看到妳的笑容了嗎？
很好，好多了
她應該好多了
她不會有事的
衹是一些擦傷和瘀傷
什麼？
頭
大腦…大腦
沒有，她的大腦沒受傷
她不會有大礙
下車吧
謝謝
不是
這不是妳的錯
看著我
是我沒認眞聽妳說話
妳本來想要提醒我
妳要我放慢速度，但我沒在聽
我犯了好多錯
確實是
我每次都錯了
妳有自己的聲音
妳的聲音相當動人
而且妳有好多話要說
對，這樣才是為自己發聲
我希望妳好好運用自己的聲音
好嗎？
我希望妳…唱歌、尖叫，或…
不知道，說笑話
我不能再為妳發聲了
讓大家聽到妳的聲音
好嗎？
拜託妳，拜託
上來
妳打算說什麼？
很高興回到家了
和大家從華盛頓特區回來了
我們就開始吧
為什麼要學習歷史？
梅樂蒂，布魯克斯夫婦…
你們怎麼來了？
她知道融合教育計畫結束了吧？
她想要跟你談一談
很遺憾她沒機會去華盛頓特區
我盡可能請他們延長登機時間
-我們不希望任何人… -不好意思
什麼？我…
大家都被邀請去吃早餐嗎？
衹有我沒有？
看妳吃東西有點噁心
-閉嘴啦，克萊兒 -拜託
-你們都這樣說啊 -閉嘴
如果她有去吃早餐，就能及時搭上班機
-對 -那也許我們就會贏
無論我怎麼做，或是表現多好
你從沒把我看作團隊的一份子
這不是眞的，妳是團隊很重要的成員
妳的表現很出色…
汀明老師，我有些話想說
你要等一下
好
我總會碰到壞天氣或壞掉的電梯
或是有人在用無障礙廁所
情況很糟，但我無可奈何
我的一生就是離不開輪椅
但你們排擠我
把我排除在外
那是你們的選擇
但你們知道嗎？
我不在乎
已經不在乎了
如果我讓你們感到不自在 自己想辦法接受
如果我讓你們感到噁心
如果你們同情我
那是你們的問題
不是我的
沒錯，有時候我確實需要別人幫忙推一把
但我不會任由別人擺佈
學習歷史，才能為未來做好準備
整個學校衹有在這個教室
才能學習到歷史
我衹是想待在六年級
所以我要留下來
-這個狠角色從哪裡來的啊？ -我不知道
好了…好了，過來，快過來
當然是跟媽媽學的
才沒有
她比我酷多了
這倒是
「我等認為以下眞理不言而喻
人人生而平等」
這是誰說的？
湯瑪斯傑佛遜
可想而知，這是他 寫在《獨立宣言》裡的一段話
下一題
誰說了那句經典名言…
我的聲音如何不重要
重要的是我想說的話
因為我會堅守到底
梅樂蒂
小珍，我眞的很感謝妳讓我借用妳的聲音
過程眞的很有趣
我眞的相當感激
梅樂蒂，拜託，開什麼玩笑？
這是我的榮幸，我相當樂意
我越來越喜歡輔助說話器的聲音了
接下來就用這個聲音說話吧
好吧
隨便妳