Big Man On Campus (ca. 1958)

[Music] this is Jerry Warner and he's in [Music] trouble behind that door a decision is being made an important decision that may affect Jerry's whole [Music] Future Boy I never thought I'd be sitting here like this sure I knew other kids who'd been suspended from school in all the trouble they had but I never thought it'd happen to me well so they suspend me so what that's okay too the other kids will still think I'm a pretty big man only it is going to be a lot of bother how come I got into this mess anyway how come [Music] who do they think they are anyway just because they're bigger they think they can tell everybody what to do make me feel like a real Punk so my friends can laugh at me what's the difference if I did run it's a silly rule anyway and I didn't hurt anybody nobody's going to tell me what to do [Music] those two characters made me look pretty silly all right well I'd show everybody what I think of that [Music] [Music] stuff well it's not hard to make somebody else look silly either [Music] [Music] I didn't really want to fight that guy I was only clowning but everybody was watching me and I couldn't back out could I they'd think I was chicken mom called the whole thing a storm and a teacup after all boys will be boys she said it wasn't as if I'd done anything terrible just a little fight sure the school has a rule against fighting and when you come right down to it I did start the whole thing I guess I was in the wrong but Mom was on my side so what could I lose still I suppose she had to agree to letting them discipline me but one week on the trash detail boy especially in the girl section that was really humiliating the other kids are probably laughing their head off and at my [Music] expense and then another lecture just because I got an F in a home assignment well so what it's not the school grades that matter but whether or not you're popular isn't it that's the way to be somebody rather than nobody the most important thing and I'd show him I'd show him that I was somebody not afraid of anything I'd show him a real stunt I wanted all of them to look up to me not to laugh at me [Music] it was a close call all right and I was scared it really was a dumb thing to do but I had to play it through didn't I [Music] here it comes another lecture someone else to tell me do this and don't do that even after school the policeman said that I put myself in danger as well as setting a bad [Music] example I got away with it this time with just a warning and I was sure the kids were impressed that I wasn't afraid the kids were impressed all right anyway some of them [Music] were I wondered what all the others thought most of them didn't belong to my gang of course they thought that getting good grades and obeying the rules were the things to do sure they'd sometimes watch watch when I did a stun or something and laugh I'd sometimes wonder if they were laughing with me or at me anyway I was pretty sure my own group even though it was a small one thought I was a big man that Carol she was pretty impressed with me all right she's okay only I wonder if she's really the kind of girl I could go for it may be just that well she's always around she isn't really that good-looking either only kind of flashy and it's certainly true that she isn't very smart I guess the teacher was right when he told her that you can't keep your mouth and your mind open at the same time and Carol certainly does talk a lot in [Music] class maybe the fellows of the gang weren't the greatest but I didn't want to be left out like when the guys wanted to stop and fool around at [Music] dins I knew very well that I was supposed to go straight home from school but I just couldn't refuse I knew I was doing the wrong thing but I guess it was more important to be accepted by the guys than anything else [Music] I was very late getting home all right mom was real angry with me I guess I had it coming mom said I was grounded and had to stay home Saturday and it wasn't any fun to have to tell the kids that I couldn't go with them after all they knew why and I felt I was losing my reputation for being a big man [Music] that's when I got my big idea I really wanted to show him [Music] [Music] well I guess I have a good idea now why I'm sitting here in this fine mess it wasn't just the one thing I'd been wrong in a lot of things I guess I just wasn't too sure of myself myself but I wanted to belong and so I tried to play the Big Man by showing off and by refusing to listen to anyone with authority most of the other kids were getting along with authority okay and it did seem to pay off for him but everyone has a boss I guess it's about time I learned that too Jerry wanted to be accepted and liked and admired by his friends but all his showing off and Rebellion really just accomplished the opposite in the long run playing the big man he had even placed himself and others in danger and created trouble for his friends but he was hurting no one nearly as much as he was hurting himself well he had called the tune now he had to face the music but perhaps it wasn't too late he had been wrong he knew that now perhaps he would get another chance Jerry did get another chance he had taken an honest look at himself and had come up with some good answers if he's smart enough to act upon them then he is taking the first step toward growing up