Back to School - Recap

With his career as front-man for music group "Steve Hightower and the Hi-Tops" no longer supporting him, Steve Hightower arrives at Chicago's, Booker T. Washington High School. Steve's best friend, Cedric Jackie Robinson, the school's physical education teacher and coach, has arranged a teaching job for Steve. Steve enters the office and is greeted by a student, Stanley Kuzsnacki. Stanley tells Steve his friends call him "Bullethead" because he has a bullet in his head. Cedric enters the office to find Steve and introduces him to the principal, beautiful Regina Grier, explaining they are friends from college. Principal Grier is unimpressed and demands Steve enter her office. Attempting to break the ice with Regina, Steve jokes that the last time he was in the principal's office, he was being reprimanded for taping a sign to a fat girl's back reading, "I sweat Crisco." Regina, frowning, clearly does not appreciate his sense of humor. Following a shaky start with Principal Grier, Steve learns, due to staff layoffs, he will now be required to teach drama and art, in addition to the music position. Steve protests and informs Regina he isn't qualified to teach those subjects. She tells him these are the new conditions of employment and if he can't accept them, someone else will be hired. Knowing he must pay the rent, Steve accepts the new terms and heads for the classroom. Steve enters a raucous and loud classroom. As he tries to get the students' attention they ignore him. Finally, Steve introduces himself as their music, drama and art instructor. Sophia Ortiz immediately confronts Steve, demanding to know where the old teacher is, why he is teaching all those subjects and why they have to take the courses anyway. When the handsome and cocky Romeo Santana intentionally arrives late, so he can make an entrance, Steve realizes his new job is going to be filled with trouble. Sophia told Steve about Romeo, then they kissed and Sophia told Romeo that she love him and Steve told them to cut it out. Cedric arrives to check in on his friend and Steve immediately pulls him into the hall for a private conversation. After complaining about the job, the poorly-behaved kids and the rude principal, Steve isn't at all sure he's cut out for the job. However, Cedric does his best to help and offers some advice as to how he can better his situation by showing the kids who's the boss. When Steve re-enters, the classroom is once again in a state of chaos, with Romeo and Sophia, his girlfriend, arguing over a birthday gift. Apparently, Sophia believes Romeo forgot today was her birthday. Steve asserting his authority and taking control of his classroom, throws them both out, so he can teach uninterrupted. But Regina then interrupts Steve's lesson by returning the students to class. Regina tells Steve teaching is a huge responsibility and he must face his problems, not simply toss them out of the classroom. Further, he is no longer the big man on campus and has to play by her rules as well. Regina leaves and Cedric, overhearing their conversation, approaches. Steve tells Cedric the job is too much for him and it will be his last day. Cedric accuses him of being selfish. To end an argument with Sophia, Steve encourages Romeo to get the birthday gift she's expecting - but learns Romeo spent all the money he'd saved for the gift on his family's electric bill. Romeo is ashamed and afraid to tell Sophia the truth. Romeo is worried he won't be perceived as "the man" if people know he is poor. Steve tells him he is "the man" because he did the right thing for his family. Steve then promises to help Romeo give Sophia a gift from the heart, and together they compose a song for Sophia's birthday. When Cedric visits again, Steve takes his earlier criticism to heart and gladly decides to stay. Steve then rushes off to meet with the principal and sign his contract. Regina criticizes Steve for being tardy and comments he still uses half the page to sign his name. Startled, Steve demands to know how Regina knows so much about him. Regina relents and recites a few derogatory nicknames for fat girls. Steve finally realizes the beautiful principal is none other than Regina "Piggy" Grier, the classmate upon whom he hung the "I sweat Crisco" sign years before. Steve is stunned by her transformation and can't help but say "she done cleaned up well!" With poetic justice, Regina, the ugly-duckling-turned-swan, has turned the tables and it now appears she may have a chance to inflict her own brand of revenge, as she reminds Steve, "From now on, I'm on top." Steve looks her over and with a sly grin says, "I'm cool with that!".



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