Starr & Schuyler [2009]

[Schuyler asks Starr a question about reproduction and she has trouble answering]
Schuyler: This is A.P. biology, my lady. You must know the fundamentals by now. And I presume you did the reading.
Markko: Reproduction is the foundation of life. It's the system of internal fertilization, implantation, and gestation.
Schuyler: Fantastic. Fantastic. But if the young lady doesn't know the basics, then perhaps she's in the wrong class.
Langston: Starr's the smartest person in the room.
Schuyler: That's great. That's great. I live to hear from the smartest person.
Langston: Leave her alone. She knows the fundamentals. I mean, she had --
Starr: I had a baby. I had a baby, and I lost her. So, yes, I know all about reproduction and birth and babies.
Schuyler: Uh, please accept my apologies. I -- I had no idea.


[Starr opens up to Schuyler about testifying against Todd]
Starr: I think testifying against my dad is so wrong, but I owe it to so many people. And on the other hand, I have two little brothers who still idolize my dad, and they miss him very much. How can I be the one to take him away from them?
Schuyler: All I know is, you need to start listening to what your heart tells you. I'm sorry I don't have better advice than that.
Starr: I can't put this on anyone else.
Schuyler: I think you need to start trusting yourself. Because somebody doesn't agonize over something this much and not make the right choice.


[Starr tells Schuyler about holding Chloe]
Starr: There was just this connection. I guess because she is my second cousin, there is some type of connection, but it was more than that.
Schuyler: Well, you're still postpartum and the baby was born on the same day that yours was, so --
Starr: She could have been mine.


Schuyler: You are more mature than any of my other students.
Starr: Translation -- dork.


Schuyler: If you're looking for something to obsess over, I think I have an idea. I'm working on my master's thesis, okay? And it's on genetic mutations and mechanisms. I know it sounds boring --
Starr: No, are you kidding me? It doesn't at all. I love evolution. I did a report in junior high on prehistoric development.


[Schuyler explains to Starr why he became a teacher]
Schuyler: When I finally went to rehab and it started sticking, one of the counselors, he came to me and he asked if I would want to be that guy that talks to the younger kids and says, you know, why you should stay off of drugs and why you should stay clean, and I thought, really? Like, am I the kind of guy that somebody wants to learn from? What do I have to say? And my first kid, Joe, we called him Joe. He -- this kid, I would say something and he would look at me like I was talking another language. It was so frustrating. And I finally learned, you just have to be able to say the same thing 12 different ways for somebody to get it. And the look, Starr, the look in this kid's eyes when he finally got it, it was like -- it made it all worth it. For the first time in my life, I --
Starr: You knew exactly what you wanted.


[Schuyler chaperones a school dance]
Starr: How's the chaperoning gig?
Schuyler: I'll let you in on a little secret -- I have no idea what a chaperone actually does. I figure I'll just keep watching Ms. Dickinson.
Starr: I think you're just supposed to make sure that everyone has some good, clean fun.


Starr: I feel like you're the only person I can talk to lately, the only one who's been completely honest with me.
Schuyler: Ah, yes. Yes, that's me -- Schuyler Joplin, patron saint of truth.


Starr: You always know the right thing to say.
Schuyler: Well, if that's at all true, it's because I've already made every mistake known to man.


[Starr defends her decision to kiss Schuyler]
Starr: I'm not just a student. I'm your friend.
Schuyler: I'm not supposed to be your friend, Starr.
Starr: But you've helped me through so much. I was a total mess.
Schuyler: Yeah, you were a total mess and that's a perfect reason for why I needed to maintain boundaries. The reason that kiss happened was because I didn't.
Starr: There is a connection between us -- you can't just say that there isn't.
Schuyler: Well, if there is, then I shouldn't be a teacher.
Starr: You felt something, too, Schuyler.
Schuyler: My name is Mr. Joplin. I'm your teacher, not your friend, and if you're looking for something more, then you and I can never be in the same place alone ever again.


Starr: (to Schuyler) I have been looking out for my dad, and for Cole and for the baby that I lost, for a long time. What if once, I want to look out for me?


[Schuyler calls Starr]
Starr: You said we couldn't have any contact.
Schuyler: Yeah, well, I can't get any more suspended from my job than I already am.


Schuyler: Maybe you could look at what's happening to Cole right now as his wake-up call.
Starr: He's been going from bad to worse for so long now. How many wake-up calls does someone need?
Schuyler: Well, sometimes, you have to hit bottom in order to look back up again. I mean, everybody knows now -- he can't hide this anymore, and I'm rooting for him. I really am, and I'm rooting for your mom, too. I hope they both get better.
Starr: Thank you. I'll -- I'll let you know if there's any change, okay?
Schuyler: Don't do that.
Starr: Don't you want to know?
Schuyler: I'm -- I won't be calling you again. I just wanted you to know that I was, um, thinking about you.


[Starr and Schuyler have another encounter]
Schuyler: We can't do this again.
Starr: What do you mean? We didn't do anything wrong. You didn't do anything wrong.
Schuyler: Yeah, and a lot of people would disagree with that statement.


Langston: Are you sure you're not mistaking a crush for real feelings?
Starr: They are real feelings.
Langston: Maybe for you. What about Mr. J?


Starr: (about Schuyler) He gets me, and I get him, okay? With -- with everything that happened with his mom and my dad--
Langston: You have a connection.
Starr: Well, I -- we just both have parents that do bad things in order to protect us.


Starr: I snuck around with Cole, and I could sneak around with Schuyler.
Langston: Schuyler has a girlfriend!
Starr: All I know is that it's not over for me and Schuyler. There's something between us -- I know there is! He might not see it now, but he's going to! He'll have to.


[Starr shows up at Schuyler’s apartment]
Schuyler: I was your teacher, you were my student, that's it.
Starr: But now we're not in class together anymore.
Schuyler: That doesn't -- that doesn't change the fact that you are a 17-year-old child.
Starr: I am not a child. How can you call me a child? I'm not a child at all. I have been with a man. I've had sex.
Schuyler: Yeah, and it ended in disaster, okay? You got pregnant.
Starr: But that won't happen. That won't happen this time. I -- I want you.
Schuyler: No, no, this is not happening, and you need to get over it right now.


[Starr starts to undress in front of Schuyler]
Schuyler: Put -- put your top on.
Starr: Why? Why?
Schuyler: Oh hey, whoa. Starr, do I have to call your parents?
Starr: What? My mom is in the hospital. My dad doesn't have custody anymore. He has no say in what I do.
Schuyler: I am not having sex with you.
Starr: Well, you want to, right? I really think -- I think you do.
Schuyler: You're just a kid.
Starr: You have no idea, okay? I have been through more this year than people go through in their entire lifetime. It grows someone up. Go ahead. Tell me that you don't want me and I'll leave.


Starr: We share something.
Schuyler: Yeah -- yeah, grief, Starr. We share grief.
Starr: No.
Schuyler: No, grief over my mother, grief over your baby -- we share grief.


Starr: I think about you all the time. And you -- you have feelings for me, right? I know that you do.
Schuyler: I'm sorry. I'm sorry I misled you. There's nothing between us. There can't be. I care about you as a student. I care about you as a friend. But you and I can never be involved. We're not going to be involved.
Starr: Look, I know that this all started because your mom was my doctor, but it's more than that. And I know that you were my teacher and I was your student, and that was wrong. I completely agree. But now, you're not working there anymore.


Schuyler: Starr, do you know what happens when a grown man hooks up with a young, teenaged girl who used to be his student?
Starr: I would really like to find out.
Schuyler: No, no! That's wrong. She loses -- she's a loser.
Starr: But you would never do something like that to me, right? Right?


[Starr’s letter to Schuyler]
Starr: "Dear Schuyler, maybe you can't admit it, but what we have is real. From the minute you talked to me that first time, when you told me to stay after class, I felt it. I think you did, too. We belong together. You called me a child today, and I guess it was a little crazy for me to start taking off my clothes. I have lost a child, so how can I be one? I know you think we can't be together because you're older than me and you're my teacher, and that's what makes you hold back from me. But I saw the way you looked at me when I was standing in front of you without my top on. It was just for a second, but I saw it. I'm sorry you got in trouble because of me. I want you to get your job back, and I'll do whatever I can to help you. And when you do, I'll pretend like there's nothing between us, and we'll both know that there is. And after next year, I'll graduate and we'll be free to be with each other. I'll wait for you, I promise. Please, please, wait for me, Schuyler. Tell me you'll wait for me. All my love, Starr."


[Todd threatens Schuyler over Starr]
Schuyler: And you wonder why Starr is so messed up about men?
Todd: And what is that supposed to mean?
Schuyler: Well, "what is that supposed" -- you did this to her. You're the one responsible for her falling in love with all the wrong guys and, yeah, she's been lucky. She's been really lucky so far, but who knows? Next guy might -- might come along and completely take advantage of her, you know, but that's going to be your fault, you sick son of a bitch!


Starr: I'm sorry about my dad. You should not have been in the middle of all this.
Schuyler: Oh, well, it's over with and I got a wicked cool shiner out of it.


Starr: Remember when you said I was only into you because I was missing Cole? You were right, and I'm sorry because I know that I weirded you out and I can't believe that I did what I did and -- it was a total stalker move and I am completely mortified.
Schuyler: Don't -- Starr, don't -- don't do that to yourself. You were -- you're young, you had suffered a lot of loss, you weren't you. I get it.


Starr: Maybe there's even a possibility that we could be friends.
Schuyler: I think when you're older, maybe we can be friends. Right now, I -- I have to figure out how to get my life back together and something tells me you have another friend that you should focus on.
Starr: Yeah. I do.


Schuyler: I'm really glad that everything worked out for you and for Cole.
Starr: Yeah, me, too. How are you? I know that you're not teaching, thanks to me.
Schuyler: Uh, no, no. It's not your fault. Actually, the good news is I'm going back to med school.
Starr: You are?
Schuyler: Yeah.
Starr: That's great! Your mother would be so proud.
Schuyler: Yeah, I hope so.
Starr: I just really want you to be happy.
Schuyler: Working on that.


Schuyler: Hey, tell Starr I said hi, I mean--I'm sorry--if you don't mind.
Cole: No. I don't mind. You know, Starr, she finally got it through my thick head that you didn't do anything wrong.
Schuyler: No. No. I did. I should've been firmer about boundaries.
Cole: No. Look. She really needed someone. You were there, and I wasn’t.