BOSTON PUBLIC: CHAPTER SIX (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas that explore the tempestuous relationships between the jaded administration and the precocious student body of a volatile public high school in Boston.
A teacher named Tim McMahon collapses and dies before Principal Harper's eyes. The school is deeply affected by Tim's death, including Principal Harper, who was Tim's close friend. Meanwhile, Miss Davis has trouble with Webster Henderson, one of her students, who gives her disrespect when she tries to discipline him for not completing his assignments. In response to injuries sustained by students, Vice Principal Guber sits in on English teacher Mrs. Walsh's class, where he witnesses her administering corporal punishment via a paddle. Guver calls Mrs. Walsh into his office and warns her not to use the paddle any more. Miss Davis confronts Webster in the hallway, and he spits in her face.
Principal Harper visits Tim's wife Vicky, who reveals that she threw him out of the house a week ago because she discovered he was having an affair with one of his students, a girl named Karen Fitzgerald. Miss Davis tells Harper about her encounter with Webster and asks that he be expelled. George Howe leads a student-run assembly where he talks about the uselessness of the faculty in dealing with the death of their teacher, and invites them to take up prayer. Marilyn tells Harper about the assembly; he asks her out to dinner, much to her surprise, but is interrupted before she can answer.
Karen claims that no affair took place between her and Tim. Harper sends Guber to investigate the matter further. Webster is then brought into Harper's office, where he is suspended and told that he may be expelled. Harper then asks that an expulsion hearing be scheduled for Webster. Harper speaks to Vicky again about Tim's affair; according to his journal entries it had been going on for over a year, and he left money to Karen in his will. Guber informs Miss Davis of the expulsion hearing and tries to talk her out of it, but she is convinced that expulsion is the only solution.
Principal Harper speaks with the Fitzgerald family, who side with their daughter and believe her story. Harper suggests transferring her to another school for her own safety, but Mr. Fitzgerald threatens to sue the school. He gets them to agree to the transfer, although they still threaten litigation regardless. Mr. Lipschultz speaks with Mrs. Walsh in the teacher's lounge about her corporal punishment policies, and based on some of her comments believes that there is a perverse sexual component to her teaching tactics. Meanwhile, the students are holding prayer assemblies, and Principal Harper is distressed to see Marla onstage leading them in song, a violation of laws about in-school prayer from the Supreme Court.
Webster's mother arrives for the expulsion hearing, claiming that Webster's behavior, while inappropriate, was understandable given the many recent problems in his personal life. Miss Davis says otherwise, believing that Webster's actions were premeditated and not a sudden emotional snap. Lipschultz passes on his discovery about Mrs. Walsh to Vice Principal Guber. Harper speaks to Marla in the teacher's lounge about her actions at the prayer meeting; she claims that the kids need spiritual guidance in a trying time, but Harper becomes angry and yells at her to stay out of any further prayer assemblies. Frustrated and stressed, Harper returns to his office, where he apologizes to Marilyn for asking her out. She suggests that he take time out to grieve over Tim's death. Meanwhile, Miss Davis talks with Mr. Senate about her situation, and they share a moment together.
The next day, Vicky visits Principal Harper's office accompanied by Dr. Lipton, Tim's psychiatrist. Dr. Lipton reveals that Tim suffered from a mental disorder and that his affair with Karen was wholly a product of his own delusions. Guber fires Mrs. Walsh despite her vehement protests. Principal Harper decides not to expel Webster, but instead gives him two months' suspension. Webster's mother criticizes Harper's decision and Miss Davis's treatment of Webster before leaving. The students' prayer meeting comes to a halt when Principal Harper goes to the stage to make a speech. He reveals that Karen's affair with Tim never took place and advises all the students to "stay connected" to each other. He leaves, choking back his own tears; the student body sits in silence.
Vice Principal Guber tries to smooth things over with the Fitzgerald family, but Mr. Fitzgerald is deeply disturbed that the school made him doubt his daughter's word. Miss Davis talks to Mr. Senate again and they kiss, despite their realization that it is a bad idea. The episode ends as Principal Harper visits Tim's body in the morgue, finally allowing himself to grieve. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: FOX
- DATE: November 27, 2000 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:63170
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: Fox - TV series, 2000-2004
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Jonathan Pontell … Co-Executive Producer, Director
- Jeremy Miller … Producer
- Daniel Cohn … Producer
- Pamela Wisne … Producer
- Philip Neel … Co-Producer
- Mike Listo … Supervising Producer
- Melissa Rosenberg … Consulting Producer
- Kerry Lenhart … Consulting Producer
- John J. Sakmar … Consulting Producer
- Danny Lux … Music by
- Thomas Newman … Theme Music by
- Jessalyn Gilsig … Cast, Lauren Davis
- Chi McBride … Cast, Steven Harper
- Anthony Heald … Cast, Scott Guber
- Nicky Katt … Cast, Harry Senate
- Thomas McCarthy … Cast, Kevin Riley
- Loretta Devine … Cast, Marla Hendricks
- Joey Slotnick … Cast, Milton Buttle
- Rashida Jones … Cast, Louisa Fenn
- Sharon Leal … Cast, Marilyn Sudor
- Fyvush Finkel … Cast, Harvey Lipschultz
- Phyllis Lyons … Cast, Vicky McMahon
- Mark L. Taylor … Cast, Tim McMahon
- Angela Paton … Cast, Mrs. Walsh
- April Grace … Cast, Sandra Henderson
- Adrian Davis … Cast, Webster Henderson
- Jill Ritchie … Cast, Karen Fitzgerald
- Eric Jungmann … Cast, George Howe
- Laurie O'Brien … Cast, Melanie Fitzgerald
- Edwin Hodge … Cast, Jamaal Crenshaw
- Larry Bates … Cast, Petie Samples
- Christopher John Fields … Cast, Henderson's Lawyer
- Nick Jameson … Cast, Dr. Lipton
- Joanna Sanchez … Cast, Nurse Pauline Drier
- Natanya Ross … Cast, Singer
- Paul Norwood … Cast, Paul Fitzgerald
- Efren Ramirez … Cast, Amaad
- Shelly Cole … Cast, Susan
- Alex Chester … Cast, Stairwell Girl
- Hallie Erin King … Cast, Stairwell Girl
- Katie Burditt … Cast, Stairwell Girl