Connect with English - Episode21

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Episode
 21 
 A Difficult Decision
		PART 1
1 THE WANGS’ STORE, CHINATOWN—DAY
2 Emma and Rebecca walk into Mr. Wang’s import-export store. Rebecca carries the kids’ drawings and cards
3 in a big envelope.
4 REBECCA Let’s hope these cards and letters will persuade Mr. Wang to let Vincent come
5	back.
6 EMMA I’ve talked to him several times on the telephone. He’s very polite. He’s just not
7		ready to change his mind.
8 REBECCA He knows Vincent loved the program. Maybe the cards will convince him that
9		the program’s good for Vincent.
10 EMMA Well, let’s keep our fingers crossed.
11 Mr. Wang greets them politely.
12 MR. WANG Ah. . . hello, Mrs. Washington. And hello, Miss Casey.
13 Emma removes the cards from the envelope and spreads them out on the counter.
14 EMMA Hello, Mr. Wang. The children from the after-school program made these cards
15	for Vincent. We all want to say how sorry we are about what happened.
16 MR. WANG I see.
17 EMMA We also held a prejudice-awareness workshop. A policewoman came in to help
the children understand what happened, and why it was wrong. We’re sorry
19		about what happened. We miss Vincent very much. And we hope you’ll let him
20		come back.
21 Mr. Wang looks at the letters.
22 MR. WANG Thank you. Vincent will be very happy to see these.
23 REBECCA I want to apologize, again. I feel partly responsible for what happened to Vincent.
24		1 also wanna say how much we want Vincent to come back to the program.
25 MR. WANG Thank you. I know that Vincent misses his friends, too. But we don’t want him
26		 to get hurt. Some parents don’t teach their children how to behave. It’s a
27		problem in this country.
28 EMMA	 May I speak frankly?
29 MR. WANG Yes.
30 EMMA I’m an African-American woman. All my life I’ve had to deal with prejudice.
31	When I was a little girl, kids made fun of me. They called me names. It hurt a
32	lot…especially as a child. But I got through it and so will Vincent.
33 MR. WANG I understand that there is hate in this world, but Vincent is just a child. Parents
34	must protect their children.
35 EMMA Now, I know you love your son. And I know that you have to do what you think
36	is right for him. But we think it’d be good for him and the other children if you
37	allow him to come back. It’d teach them that it’s possible to overcome prejudice...
38	but only when we work together.
39 MR. WANG Thank you for your concern. I know that you both care. . . but this is a very
40		difficult decision for our family.
41 THE WANGS’ APARTMENT—EVENING
42 Mr. Wang enters Vincent’s bedroom. Vincent is playing with his guitar. He stops when his father enters the
43 room.
44 MR. WANG Mrs. Washington and, uh, Miss Casey brought these for you.
45 Vincent takes the cards and drawings and quickly looks at them. He smiles. His father watches his
46 expression and sees how much they mean to the boy.
47 VINCENT Look. . . this one’s from Alex! (He reads the card.) ‘Vincent, you have to come
48		back. We are a team. I miss you. Alex.’
49 His father looks at the drawing of two boys smiling, their arms around each other’s shoulders. They’re
50 wearing baseball uniforms. Vincent reads another card.
51 VINCENT ‘Hope you can come back soon. Steven.’
52 Vincent then turns serious as he remembers that he is not with his friends.
53 VINCENT Dad, can’t I go back?
54 Mr. Wang looks at his son with feeling. He tries to think what is best for his son.
55 MR. WANG We’ll see.
PART 2
56 SAN FRANCISCO COLLEGE OF MUSIC, CLASSROOM—MORNING
57 The students are practicing, listening to instructions from Professor Thomas.
58 PROFESSOR THOMAS So, do you think you can handle it? We’ll do it nice and slow. I’ll
59	count you off: one. . . two. . . one, two, three, four...
60 The students, including Rebecca, begin to play.
61 COLLEGE LIBRARY
62 Rebecca studies in the library. A man plays an electronic clarinet. Bill listens to a piano composition on a
63 special computer.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM—AFTERNOON
65 Kids are arriving, greeting Rebecca and Emma at the door.
66 REBECCA Do you think Vincent’s coming back?
67 EMMA I’m sure Mr. and Mrs. Wang gave it some thought, but I’m not very optimistic.
68 Alex arrives.
69 EMMA Good afternoon.
70 REBECCA Hi, Alex.
71 ALEX Hi. Is Vincent coming back?
72 EMMA Oh, we don’t know yet.
73 REBECCA Why don’t you go in and sit down? I’ll be right there.
74 Alex goes in, without a lot of spirit. Rebecca leaves after giving Emma a look of concern. Emma greets
75 another child.
76 EMMA Egypt, c’mon, honey, c’mon. How are you today?
77 GIRL Good.
78 EMMA Good. Good to see you.
79 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
80 Outside, Emma sings a song with a group of after-school children. Mrs. Wang and Vincent walk toward the
81 building. Vincent is carrying his guitar case.
82 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, HALLWAY
83 Mrs. Wang and Vincent enter the building. They walk down the hallway. In a nearby room, we see Rebecca teaching the children a song.
85 EMMA’S OFFICE
86 Emma is going over the program’s budget. She hears a voice and looks up.
87 VINCENT Good afternoon, Mrs. Washington...
88 EMMA (happy) Vincent! Mrs. Wang! Come in! Have a seat, please.
89 The two sit down.
90 EMMA I’m so happy that Vincent is back.
91 Vincent and Mrs. Wang look at each other.
92 MRS. WANG I’m sorry about my English. Urn—My husband and I have (to Vincent) zuô chu
	93	jué ding.
94 VINCENT . . . made a decision
95 MRS. WANG ... made a decision. Vincent not coming back to program. We want to
	96	return guitar.
97 EMMA I’m disappointed to hear that. I’m sorry Vincent won’t be in the program.
	98		Vincent, we were happy to have you here. We’ll miss you very much.
99 VINCENT (translates)(then to Emma) It was nice here. I liked it a lot...
100 Mrs. Wang says something in Mandarin, cutting Vincent off.
101 VINCENT I’m sorry, Mrs. Washington, but my mother says we have to go now. Thank you.
102 Mrs. Wang and Vincent leave. As they pass one classroom, we can hear Rebecca leading a group of kids in
103 a song. Vincent looks in at the other kids as he and his mother pass this room. Rebecca and a group of
104 children are having a good time singing. Alex is playing with his baseball glove, and he is not really singing
105 with the rest.
106 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, HALLWAY
107 The children are heading home. Rebecca stops Alex in the hallway.
108 REBECCA Alex, I have some bad news—Vincent’s not coming back to the program. His
109		parents think it’s the best thing for him. We’re gonna tell the other students
	110		tomorrow.
	111	ALEX	I knew it.
	112	REBECCA	Alex, is your father picking you up today?
	113	ALEX	Yeah.
	PART 3
114 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM, STAIRS
115 Ramón walks up the stairs to greet Rebecca and Alex as they approach.
116 RAMON Hi, Alex. How was your day? (The boy shrugs.) Hello, Rebecca.
117 REBECCA Hi, Ramón. Do you have a minute?
118 RAMON Sure.
119 Alex watches them closely as they talk.
120 REBECCA Mrs. Wang stopped by today and told us that Vincent is not coming back to the
	121		program.
	122	 RAMON	That’s too bad.
	123	 REBECCA (interrupting) But I have an idea: I think I’ll ask the Wangs if I can give guitar
	124		lessons to Vincent and Alex at Vincent’s house.
	125	 RAMON	(smiles and looks at Alex) What do you think, Alex?
126 ALEX Yeah! I’d like that.
127 REBECCA That way, they can keep up the friendship while they learn to play the guitar. I’ll
128		throw in the lessons for free.
 RAMON Great idea. But I must pay for Alex’s lessons
	130 REBECCA No. They’re free, I insist. I feel so bad about what happened, this is my way of
	131		doing something about it.
	132 RAMON You can do whatever you want withthe Wangs, but, please, let me pay for Alex.
	133 REBECCA But…don’t want you or the Wangs to pay...
134 RAMON I insist. Listen, Vincent is Alex’s best friend. It’s the least a father can do. Right,
135 	pal? (The three begin walking to Ramón’s car.)
	136	 ALEX	So, when do we start?
	137	 REBECCA I don’t know. I have to ask the Wangs first.
	138	 ALEX	(interrupting) Today, right?
	139	RAMON	Take it easy, champ.
140 ENTRANCE TO THE WANGS’ APARTMENT BUILDING—LATE AFTERNOON
141 Rebecca rings the doorbell and waits. Finally, a voice comes on the intercom.
142 MRS. WANG Hello?
143 REBECCA Hello, Mrs. Wang. This is Miss Casey—from the after-school program.
144 MRS. WANG Yes, Miss Casey. I’m coming down.
145 REBECCA OK.
146 Mrs. Wang opens the door and Rebecca enters.
147 THE WANGS’ APARTMENT
148 REBECCA Hi, Mrs. Wang.
149 MRS. WANG Miss Casey, very nice to see you. Please, sit down.
150 REBECCA Thank you.
151 Rebecca takes a deep breath and smiles.