Responsibility (1953)

Look at it. I'd like to tell you some things about I know Hank Evans came to Lincoln High School from L school a student and we were glad to have another Evans the opening day of and Hank was in the midst of >> Jane Cox here. >> Henry Evans >> here. >> You're Vera Evans brother, aren't you? I had Vera last. >> Yeah, I'm her brother. But can't I be just plain Hank Evans? Lloyd Smith >> here. >> Hank Evans had a right to expect that he'd be treated as an individual, not just as Ver Evans younger brother. >> But it's the things that come out after you've known a person a while that really tell you about him. About the third week of school in Miss Jackson's English class, Hank decided >> very important to discover why Shakespeare induced the ghost into now. Just a moment now. Just a minute. Will you please follow through on chapters 9 and 10 just as you did chapter 8 today and be ready to discuss that now and 10 go >> oh why don't they let us out of class on time I've got to go clear over to the other side of the building I know what you mean I got the same >> Miss Jackson I'm sorry but I didn't get the complete assign assignment for tomorrow. There was so much noise in the hall. >> I know, and I'm sorry. It's chapters 9 and 10. Read them and be ready to discuss them tomorrow. >> Chapters 9 and 10. Read and be ready to recite in class as we have been doing. Is that it? >> That's it. And I promise not to wait until the end of the period to make the assignment next time. >> Thank you. >> I'm glad that's done. homework in every class with Miss Jackson's. It's a wonder she didn't say. She did say something about two chapters. But what? And what two chapters? You >> all finished with it? >> Yeah. All I can get. I think I was supposed to do some English, but I don't know. >> And you better find out. >> Oh, gee whiz. How can I? She threw some stuff at us right at the end of the hour. Nobody could have got it if I didn't. >> They might have. Why don't you call someone? >> Oh, all right. I'll call Lloyd Smith. Maybe he'll know. >> 2903. >> Lloyd Hank. Hey, what did Miss Jackson assign for class tomorrow? >> Well, she said to read chapters 9 and 10. I guess she meant so we could decide on them just as we have been doing. Anyway, that's what I'm going to study. >> But you don't for sure. >> Well, thanks, Lloyd. Goodbye. >> Chapters 9 and 10. Maybe if it's not 9 and 10, well, then I've read them for nothing. Besides, I've done enough work for one night. >> Perhaps Hank wasn't entirely to blame that he wasn't prepared for English class the next day. But Beverly Anderson was prepared. She had taken it upon herself to make sure what she was supposed to do. White Smith could contribute to the class discussion, too, because he had learned that you can't let things slide and expect to keep up. And Hank, oh, he had a couple of bad moments. He hardly knew what was being talked about, but he managed to avoid being called on to recite, and know himself was the wiser. I could unfold this slip of paper right now and see whether we, the teachers and I have been wrong and Hank Evans has been right. Does it make any difference if you let things slide once in a while? But let me tell you another incident in Hank's career. He and Lloyd Smith used to get their lessons together. It was an even up proposition. Neither one of them did more work than the other. >> Quantity x - 3 * quantity x - 5. Hey, look here, Lloyd. This isn't going to prove out. We've got a mistake somewhere. Well, maybe it's up here in this first substitution. Hey, how'd that five get in there? >> Hey, that's it. How'd we miss that? What? Well, it's going to factor now. Mistakes. And that finishes the problems, too. >> Yeah, I soon can copy him over. >> Copy them over? What for? >> Well, I figured all over the place. Mr. El will never be able to find my answers. >> I'll draw a circle around the answers. He wants to see how we got him, doesn't he? >> Well, sure. I intended to put in all the figuring, but but like there where you marked out all that stuff. Don't you want to copy it over so it'll look better? >> Ah, is this art or algebra? I got all the answers and they're all right. That's all I care about. >> Well, I think I'll copy mine. Suit yourself. It may not be quite fair to say that this attitude toward his work was what you remembered about Hank Evans. Hank was friendly, intelligent, popular, and had away with people. Most of the time he was an asset to Lincoln High and to himself, but there were times. >> Fa, did you get your theme finished? >> Yeah, I think it's going to be pretty good. I've only got about four more pages to type. >> To type? Why? They're supposed to be handed in this morning. But Miss Graanby said they were due on the 27th. >> I've got news for you, boy. This is the 27th. Wednesday the 27th. >> But we always hand themes in on Friday. I didn't look it up. I just naturally thought Friday was the 27th. >> How'd you ever let a thing like that flip your >> For probably the first time, Hank couldn't make anyone see how reasonable his error had been. Miss Granby asked him to see her after class. Hank, I've wanted to talk with you for some time. I have your theme here, the one that came in two days late. But I told you, >> please, Hank, let me finish. >> This is an excellent theme. >> It's well written, and for once, you've taken the trouble to make it neat. But it was late. >> Miss Grant, >> there's more, Hank. Not all we asked for is here. >> A part of the assignment was to make an outline for the theme, too. an outline. >> You knew you were supposed to make an outline, why didn't you? >> I didn't think it was important. If I can write a good theme without making an outline, why do I have to? >> That's not the point, Hank. I can teach you how to punctuate and spell and how to write themes, but more important, you must learn to face responsibility. While you're a student at Lincoln High, it's your job to know what the lesson is, how it's to be done. >> I can't make you respond. That you have to do for yourself. That's all, Hank. Thank you. >> That's appreciation. Huh. My responsibility. She My sister Vera always made straight A's and everybody thinks I've got to be just like her. All the teachers who taught Vera will be on my neck no matter what I do. Well, maybe Hank Evans did get something from that talk because after that he took special pains to find out the what, when, and how in Miss Granby's classes. But people don't change completely as a result of one conversation over one assignment. Often it takes something big to convince a fellow he's on the wrong track and really needs to mend his ways. Maybe this is the something big for Hank Evans. What is it? Didn't I tell you? This is one vote in the school election. But there's one story about Hank before I tell you about election. Last year, Hank Evans went out for the debate team. He and Beverly Anderson were selected for the affirmative against Wilson High. In the practice session, Hank and Beverly were pitted against Lloyd Smith and Elsie Taylor. Since our opponents have failed to establish any basis for a change, we must realize that this contention should stand as stated. >> Fine job, Hank. I wish I could make things sound as good as you do. >> Oh, it was nothing. Nothing. At least Bev doesn't think so. >> Well, what's the matter? Don't you like the way your partner mowed us down? >> Oh, sure. He's great with his gift of gab, but all the facts are in my file box. Well, Bev's a great one for facts. You ought to see inside that file box. It's full of resolutions and quotations. >> Well, all I can say is somebody's going to get wise that his arguments are I like to be prepared. >> Oh, that's a good scout. Hey, I'm rich. Come on, I'll buy you all a soda. Good deal. Let's go. >> Okay. >> Hank didn't make many notes or collect many facts. He didn't think it was worth doing. And the idea that he wasn't doing his share didn't even occur to him. Not until a debate tournament got underway. Then not being of his facts and faced by students from Wilson who knew their facts, Hank began to suffer from a strange terrible malady with his ability to make his ar evaporated. It was pretty bad. He knew that he had let Beverly down and not just Beverly but the school. The tournament was lost. Of course, Lincoln lost because of Hank Evans, the guy who could have prepared himself but didn't. Could he be trusted again? Another test was coming up very soon for Hank Evans. Not an ordinary test. It might be better to call it a judgment of Hank by his fellow students. Hank was nominated for president of the student body and the other candidate was his friend Lloyd Smith. The election was held this morning during the first period. for president. Hank Evans and Lloyd Smith. Vote for one. He's friendly, popular, good-looking. Give outsiders a goodation of the school. Lloyd Smith. Dependable, always responsible. He never lets you down. Evans or Lloyd Smith? Vote for one. Which one? Each of the boys had something to recommend him, his followers. The election was going to be You sure? >> We checked a couple. >> Doesn't your constitution provide for an absentee ballot? >> Yeah, but was anybody absent? >> Well, let's have Miss Jenkins check to see if there are any absentees this morning. If there were, they should be allowed to vote. >> There was only one person absent this morning, and his vote will determine who will be elected. How was he voted? for Hank, the more popular one, or for Lloyd, the more responsible one? Here it is. The one vote that decides the election. Is it for Hank or for Lloyd? How would you vote?