[At Clara Barton Middle School]
Mr. Tanaka: ...and in 1871, Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern and started the Great Chicago Fire, destroying the entire city.
(phone chiming)
Sydney: Oops. Sorry. So, so sorry.
Mr. Tanaka: Okay, where was I? Um...
Sydney: Cow. Fire. Go.
(phone chimes)
Mr. Tanaka: Ms. Rozalski, what could possibly be more important than the tragic destruction of one of our greatest cities? [takes her cell phone off and looks at what's on the screen] "Chimichangas for lunch today".
Olive: They run out if you don't get there right away, which let me tell you, is pretty tragic.
(phone chimes)
Mr. Tanaka: Now what? [takes Sophia's cell phone] "Can you believe he read Olive's texts?" You know what? This is a perfect time for you to hear about our new phone policy.
Sydney: What new policy?
Mr. Virmani: I'll tell you.
Sydney: [speaking quietly to Olive] Whoa! Vice Principal Virmani. Where'd he come from?
Mr. Virmani: It's my job to be everywhere. Let me introduce you to the phone pouch. You put your phone in here in the morning, lock it, and at the end of the day, we open it for you.
(gasps, murmurs)
Sydney: Wait. All day? We won't be able to use our phones for te whole day?
Olive: This is the worst disaster ever! [covers her mouth]
Mr. Tanaka: [pointing to the board] Seriously?
Sophia: This can't be legal. I'm going to talk to my mom. She's a lawyer and on the Parent School Committee.
Mr. Virmani: Actually, it was your mom's idea.
Sophia: That sounds about right.
Mr. Virmani: In fact, the Parent School Comittee is voting to approve funds tonight. And trust me, it gives me no joy taking things from student. Well, I'm off to tell the next class! [leaves]
(bell rings)
Mr. Tanaka: Here you go. Enjoy them while you can. [returns her cell phone to Olive]
Olive: Guys, what are we gonna do? People say you can live without your phone, but has it ever been proven?
Sydney: Don't worry. My dad's on the Parent School Committee. I'm sure I can convince him to vote against it.
(phone chimes)
Olive: [sees her cell phone] Guys. More bad news. They're almost out of chimichangas.
[They rush.]
[In Sydney's house, in the living room, Max is about to eat and Sydney arrives.]
Sydney: Dad, Dad! You've got to do something.
Max: Can I do something after my chip and dip hour? I was just about to dip my chip.
Sydney: No, the school wants to take away our phones. For the whole day!
Max: Well, that does seem pretty drastic.
Sydney: Right? It's a total overreaction. I mean, if I'm late to class, I get detention. I don't get expelled.
Max: Have you been late to class?
Sydney: Dad, I said "If".
Judy: [talking to someone on the phone] Seriously, Tiff, that dress was straight fire. [to Max and Sydney] Hey, whatever's going on here, I'm on Syd's side.
Sydney: They're trying to ban cell phones at school.
Judy: What? I would never let anyone take my phone. I use it for all sorts of important stuff at school.
Sydney: Exactly. I manage my schedule, take notes, take pictures of my assignments on the board.
Judy: Find out if campus police are breaking up the party I'm heading to.
Sydney: Not helping, Grandma.
Judy: Gotcha, Noodle. [on phone] Hey, Tiff, I found out hottie Officer Kurt might be working tonight. Would you go dress or jeans for questioning? [leaves]
Max: Syd, I gree. Your phone should not be taken away. Your grandmother's should.
Sydney: In that case, maybe you could say something tonight at the meeting.
Max: I'd be happy to. This phone ban is completely unreasonable.
Sydney: Really? Thank you.
Max: Of course Syd, I'm always looking out for you.
Sydney: You just won Dad Of The Year. It was only one vote, but it was a lanslide.
Max: Well, I better get prepared for my speech. And don't worry, I'm not gonna "phone it in".[laughs]
Sydney: Yeah, get that all out now.
[Max laughs.]
- [Flashback to 1992]
[At Clara Barton Middle School, Max and Leo are in the hallway, Vice Principal Virmani approaches.]
Mr. Virmani: What's going on here?
Leo: Hello, Vice Principal Virmani. Leo Webb. You remember me. I worked in the office for two weeks and... brightened every morning with a song.
Mr. Virmani: I don't know, a lot of kids come through there. So Mr. Reynolds, I'm sure you're aware of our zero-tolerance policy on riding skateboards at school. Hand it over.
Young Max: I wasn't riding. I was just holding it.
Mr. Virmani: You skateboarders. You think the rules don't apply to you. You go around jumping curbs, hopping benches. Saying words like "tubular".
Leo: Mr. Virmani, Max happens to be a very good friend of mine, and if he says-- [Mr. Virmani turns to see him] I'm out.
Mr. Virmani: Mr. Reynolds, I'm waiting.
[Max gives him his skateboard.]
Mr. Virmani: You'll get this back when you learn your lesson.
Young Max: What does that mean?
Mr. Virmani: Let's not be coy.
Young Max: What does that mean?
[Mr. Virmani leaves]
Leo: Sorry, Max. I tried. And to think I sang for that man.
- [Goes back to present day]
[At Clara Barton Middle School, at the Parent School Comittee meeting, Max is giving his speech.]
Max: And in conclusion, if we want our kids to learn self-control with their phones, we should teach them. Not take away the very thing we want them [banging the table with his fist] to learn control over!
[everyone claps]
Olive: Wow, he nailed it.
Sydney: Hey, I just gave him the idea. He made it soar.
Olive: What about the table pound.
Sydney: All him.
Angela: Thank you, Max. Excellent points. But you aware of the recent studies that show cell phone usage in school can lead to a five percent drop in test scores?
Max: I did not know that.
Angela: Are you also aware that when they took away phones at a school in England, the lack of distractions was equal to an extra week of schooling?
Max: I did not know that either.
Angela: I'de like to call on Mr. Tanaka to give us the teacher's perspective on this issue.
Sydney, Olive and Sophia: Oh no.
Angela: Mr. Tanaka, have phones posed a problem in your classroom?
Mr. Tanaka: Are you kidding? Just this morning, I had to take phones from three students, all because of chimichangas.
Angela: I move we vote. All those in favor the phone puches for the school, raise your hand.
Sydney: Don't worry, guys. Sophia's mom made a strong case. But so did my dad.
Angela: All the opposed?
[Two parents raise their hands.]
Angela: Well, it's two votes for and two against. Looks like it's all up to you, Max.
Max: Uh... [whispering] Can I abstain?
Angela: Yea, or nay, Max?
Sydney, Olive and Sohpia: [whispering] Nay. Nay. Nay!
Max: Ye... N-N-N...
Angela: Max.
Max: Yea. I support the phone ban.
(murmuring)
Sydney: What?
[Later, at Sydney's house. Judy is talking on the phone.]
Judy: I don't know why Professor Johnson got so salty. All I said was a man bun over a bald spot just doesn't work.
[Sydney and Max arrive.]
Sydney: I can't believe you caved at that meeting.
Max: Syd, I did not cave.
Judy: I have no idea what's going on, but Syd's making some very good points.
Sydney: I'll catch you up. I'm right, he's wrong.
Max: Look, I listened to the arguments the other parents made about phones in school and they made a lot of sense to me.
Sydney: But you're the one who has give up your phone. And the students didn't even get a voice in this. Besides, what happeded to looking out for me?
Max: Syd, as a parent, sometimes looking out for you means making choices that are good for you, even though you may not like them.
Sydney: Well, I don't. This is so unfair. [leaves]
Judy: Okay. Now I get what you huys were arguing about. Still on Syd's side.
- [Flashback to 1992]
[Max and Leo arrive home.]
Judy: Where have you been? I've been driving around the neighborhood looking for you. I got a lot done, but I was still worried.
Young Max: I had to walk home from school! The vice principal took my skateboard!
Judy: What did you do?
Young Max: Nothing this time. I was just holding it. I wasn't even riding it.
Leo: He's telling the truth, Judy. Can I call you Judy?
Judy: Never. Look Max, if he took away your skateboard, he must have had a good reason.
Young Max: But he didn't. And now I may never get my board back.
Judy: I'm sorry, Max, but that man did me a favor taking your skateboard. He saved me from having to accidentally back over it with the car. [leaves]
Young Max: [to Leo] That's it. We're sneaking into Virmani's office and getting my board back. He's left me no choice.
[Leo sits.]
Young Max: What are you doing?
Leo: Practicing for detention.
- [Goes back to present-day]
[At Clara Barton Middle School, Mr. Tanaka is teaching the class.]
Mr. Tanaka: And after the Chicago fire, the city was rebuilt in three short years. Wow. I just got through a whole class without one phone going off. Look at me now, Mom.
- (bell rings)
[Everyone starts to leave.]
Sydney: [approaching Sophia] I can't stand this. My phone just vibrated. Is it a text? Is it a call? Or does it just miss me? [to her phone] I miss you, too.
Olive: Guys, wait. I gotta pack up all my apps. [putting things in her backpack] My calendar. Calculator. Addres book. Dictionary. Flashlight. And an instant camera. [takes a photo of the board] And when this develops, I'll know if I got the whole assignment. [holding a photo] Yippe!
Sophia: This is impossible. It's no fun expressing my feelings without my phone. I had to make emoji flashcards.
Sydney: What are you feeling now?
[Sophia shows a sign with a picture of a crying face on it.]
Sydney: I've got to find a way to convince my dad to back to the committee and change their minds.
Olive: How are you gonna do that?
Sydney: I'll just have to show him how it feels whe someone decides what's good for you and you don't get a say.
[Sophia shows a sign with a picture of a dolphin on it.]
Sydney: What's the dolphin for?
Sophia: Aw, man! I meant the thumbs up emoji. I can't live like this!
[Later, at the Reynolds house, Sydney is doing her homework. Max comes in.]
Sydney: Hey, Dad. Glad you're home. How was work?
Max: It was a tough day. I'm really looking forward to my chip and dip hour. No hard feelings about the phone?
Sydney: Not at all.
[Max opens a kitchen drawer.]
Max: Hey, where's my chips?
Sydney: Well, Dad. I got to reading the package and those chips are just so high in fat and salt.
Max: I know. That's why I love them.
Sydney: I'm just looking out for you. And that's why I bought you these delicious seaweed snacks [shows a bag of seaweed]
Max: Seaweed snacks? Isn't that just a fancy name for fish food?
Sydney: You know, as a daughter, looking for you sometimes means making choices you may not like. You know what I'm saying?
Max: Loud and clear. So I'm guessing my multi-layered dip is--
Sydney: In the garbage.
Max: [nods] Okay, I know what you're doing here, Sydney. And I just want to say... Thank you.
Sydney: What?
Max: It feels good to have someone looking out for me. [leaves]
Sydney: [tries a seeweed snack] Bleck. It's stuck on my tongue.
[Later on.]
Sydney: [serving coffee to Judy] Okay, so the snacks didn't get Dad to change his mind but this should break him. You know how Dad gets without his coffee.
Judy: He's like an angry badger being poked with a stick. Hey! Have you tried poking him with a stick?
[Max comes in.]
Max: Morning Syd, Mom.
Judy: Good morning.
Max: Hey, what happened to all the coffee?
Sydney: Well, you know, Dad, I was thinking you drink way too much coffee. Just looking out for you.
Max: You know? You're right. Once again, you have saved me from myself. Thank you.
Sydney: You are so, so welcome.
Max: Now let me get you some breakfast.
Sydney: Fine. How about some French toast and bacon?
Max: Actually, now that you have me thinking about my health, I've been thinking... about yours.
Sydney: No need. I feel good.
Max: But French toast is loaded with so much sugar. Instead... [pulls a pitcher from the fridge] I made you a pitcher of Dr. Max's special breakfats juice. [serves Sydney juice in a glass] Kale, turnips, garlic, and seven different fish oils. 'Cause I'm always looking out for you.
Sydney: Sounds delicious, Dad. But if it's so good for me, it must be good for you, too. [grabs a glass] You should have some.
Max: Huh? Okay. Maybe a little. [pours himself some juice, but Sydney grabs the pitcher and makes him pour himself a lot more] Mom, you wanna get in on this?
Judy: No, thanks. I'm just enjoying my coffee. [sniffs] Oh, I sense notes of blackberry, chocolate, and what is that? [drinks coffee] Oh, heaven.
Max: Luckily I have my glass of Dr. Max's. Yum.
Sydney: Bottom's up.
[Max and Sydney take the juice and stop immediately.]
Sydney: Wow. That tasted so... healthy. Who needs that delicious cup of coffeee that you enjoy every morning?
Max: I don't. And who needs banana stuffed French toast with caramelized brown sugar? Am I right?
Sydney: Totally. Not when I got this wonderful, garlicky breakfast drink. And I so enjoy that fishy kick.
Judy: Well, I better go.
Sydney: Here, Grandma. [grabs Judy's cup] Let me help you dump out this still hot cup [bringing the cup closer to Max's face] of fresh roasted joy down the drain. [pouring coffee in the sink] Bye, bye, coffee.
Max: Stop! Stop, stop, stop! I need my coffee. You win. I need my coffee.
Sydney: Yes!
Judy: Wow, that was fun. [Sydney hugs her] We should do this more often. [leaves]
Max: People making choices for you is not very fun.
Sydney: Thank you.
Max: But that doesn't mean I've changed my mind about cell phones.
Sydney: Let me give you some more juice.
Max: No. No more juice. Look, you were right. Student voices deserve to be heard. So at the next Parent Committee meeting. I will make sure you kids get your say.
Sydney: Thanks, Dad. [hugs Max]
Max: Now let's get some real breakfast.
Sydney: I'll get the coffee from the basement.
Max: I'll get the bacon from the garage.
[They leave in a hurry.]
- [Flashback to 1992]
[At Clara Carton Middle School, in Mr. Virmani's office, Max and Leo watch behind the door, as they see that no one is inside, they enter.]
Leo: Told you Vice Principal Virmani wouldn't be here.
Young Max: How'd you know that.
Leo: Because every day at 2:08, he grabs a cookie off Doris the guidance counselor's desk.
Young Max: How'd you know that?
Leo: Because every day at 2:08, I grab a cookie off Doris' desk.
[Max and Leo check a furniture.]
Young Max: Okay, I'll find my skateboard. You keep a lookout. The panic word is... flamingo.
Leo: Got it. Don't get it, but I got it.
[Max opens up a cabinet and sees his skateboard inside.]
Young Max: Jackpot! And I think this dude's selling staplers on the side.
Leo: Flamingo!
Young Max: Hide!
Leo: Quick! Under the desk!
[Max and Leo hide under the desk. Mr. Virmani comes in.]
- (phone rings)
Mr. Virmani: [on phone] Hey, Hal. What's up? A cloud that looks like a choo-choo train? Wow, I'll take a look. [goes to the window] Is it left or right of the poodle? Yes, there's a poodle!
Young Max: [to Leo] Let's get outta here.
[They try to sneak out the door, but suddenly Judy walks in.]
Judy: Mr. Virmani? Judy Reynolds.
Young Max: My mom?!
Leo: Double flamingo! [comes back with Max under the desk]
Mr. Virmani: Ms. Reynolds, come in. [in deep voice] We'll settle this later.
Judy: I understand that you took my son's skateboard away from him, and I wanna thank you for that. But then I thought about it, and it's time he got it back.
Mr. Virmani: I'm sorry, but we have a very strict policy against riding them on campus.
Judy: Max says he wasn't riding it.
Mr. Virmani: Well, you know these skateboarders. They'll tell you anything.
Judy: He's not just a skateboarder. He's my son, and I believe Max.
Young Max: [to Leo] Did you hear that?
Leo: First time for everything.
Judy: Trust me, I know when my son is lying to me. And this time, he's not lying. So can I have his skateboard?
Mr. Virmani: I'm sorry, but--
Judy: Before you answer, look in my eyes. Do I look like the kind of mother you really want to say no to? And if you're waiting for me to blink, it's not gonna happen.
Mr. Virmani: Now, where's that skateboard? [opens the cabinet] Oh, here it is. [grabs the skateboard and gives it to Judy] And I'm sorry about the mix-up. Allow me to walk you out. I'd love your opinion on a cloud. [leaves with Judy]
[Max and Leo come out of hiding.]
Young Max: Come on, let's get out of here.
Leo: Wait. [looks out the window] Yep, that's a choo-choo train.
- [Goes back to present day]
[At Clara Barton Middle School, in the hallway, Sydney is practicing her speech in front of Olive and Sophia.]
Sydney: "And in conclusion, cell phones allow us to have the world at our fingertips. They improve time management and make us better students".
Olive: That was great, Sydney.
[Sophia shows a sign with a picture of a thumb up on it.]
Sydney: Thanks. But what if they don't take me seriously? I mean, I'm just a kid. Not always a mature one. I still giggle when I hear the word doodie.
Olive: [giggling] You said doodie.
[Mr. Tanaka approaches.]
Mr. Tanaka: Hello, girls. Congratulations, Sydney. I hear you're speaking at the meeting tonight. Even though I doubt you'll change anyone--
- (phone chiming)
[Mr. Tanaka sees something on his cell phone and laughs, then he realizes the girls are watching him.]
Mr. Tanaka: What was I saying?
- (silence)
Mr. Tanaka: Oh, yeah, see you tonight. [leaves]
Olive: It's not fair. Mr. Tanaka's just as distracted by his phone as we are. And no one takes his.
Sydney: You know what? I think I just came up with an idea that'll help change their minds.
[Sophia shows a sign with a question mark on it.]
Olive: Use your words, Sophia.
[Later on, at the meeting.]
Angela: Okay, next item on the agenda, Max Reynolds has asked to speak. Max?
Max: Thank you. But I would like to give the floor to someone who usually doesn't get a say in our decisions... an actual student. Sydney?
[Sydney walks to the front while everyone applauds her.]
Sydney: Thank you, Mister... Dad. I'm here on behalf of my fellow students to discuss the cell phone ban.
Olive: [to a girl] Okay, Kayla. Text your mom.
Sydney: Now, we all know that cell phone can be a complicated issue. And I won't deny that they are very distracting.
- (phone chimes)
[Kayla's Mom is going to answer her cell phone, but Sophia takes it away.]
Kayla's Mom: Hey, what are you doing? That's mine.
Sydney: I'm sorry, but we have a no-phone policy at this school. And I'm sure you, the adult, would want to set a good example for us kids.
[Kayla's Mom is silent.]
Sydney: As I was saying...
Olive: [quietly] Jimmy, you're up.
Sydney: Research shows phones impact our ability to focus.
- (phone chimes)
[Jimmy's Mom is going to answer her cell phone, but Sophia takes it away.]
Jimmy's Mom: Hey!
Sydney: And I just wanna say one more thing.
Olive: [whispering] Everybody, it's go time. Text them all.
[The students start sending texts with their cell phones. Then every adult who answers their phone, a student takes it away.]
Mr. Tanaka: Hey! That's my grandma!
Sydney: Please, it's a confirmation for your pizza order. That's a lot of meat.
Sophia: [taking away her mom's phone] I'll take that.
Angela: [resisting] Oh, please, Sophia. It's me, it's Mommy!
Sydney: Everybody! You'll get your phone back. But I think what we've all shown here tonight is that we all struggle with our phones. And we'll never learn self-control if they're taken away. So please, patience, not pouches.
[Everybody claps.]
Olive: Whoo!
Max: Move for a revote.
- (whooping)
Sydney: Wow, that's so awesome.
Max: Like I said, I'll always be looking out for you.
Sydney: Thanks, Dad.
- [Flashback to 1992]
[Judy's in the living room, Max arrives.]
Young Max: Hey, Mom.
Judy: Hey, Max. I've got a little surprise for you.
Young Max: You do?
[Judy gives him his skateboard.]
Young Max: What? You got my skateboard back?
Judy: I went to VP Virmani and charmed it out of him.
Young Max: Really? Thanks for having my back, Mom. Now, I can go back to skating.
Judy: Absolutely. In a month. [takes away Max's skateboard]
Young Max: Wait. You said the vice principal was wrong.
Judy: He was. And so were you for sneaking into his office.
Young Max: What? I wasn't in the vice principal's office.
Judy: Remember when I told him I can tell when you're lying?
Young Max: Yeah.
Judy: Gotcha.
Young Max: Gah!
- [Goes back to present day]
[At the Reynolds house, Max and Sydney are in the kitchen.]
Sydney: Thanks again for having my back, Dad.
Max: All I did was let you talk. You're the one that got the board to vote five to zero to let the kids keep their phones. But--
Sydney: I know. If we use them in class, they get pouched. Yes, it's a verb now.
Max: Did I ever tell you about the time my skateboard was taken away by Vice Principal Virmani?
Sydney: He was vice principal when you were there? Wow, he is way overdue for a promotion.
Max: You know, this was a good idea putting our phones away and just getting to talk.
Sydney: Yeah, I don't need to be on my phone all the time.
[They see their phones in a plastic box closed with a lock.]
- (phone buzzing)
Sydney: I mean, look. One of our phones just vibrated. And do we care? Nope.
Max: Not at all. We're not obsessed.
- (phone buzzing)
[They get up from the table and go to the kitchen counter in a hurry.]
Sydney: What's that combination? Nine, seven... [trying to open the box]
Max: I am five seconds from getting a hammer.