1
00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,265
<i>♪ A-K ♪</i>

2
00:00:14,349 --> 00:00:16,935
<i>♪ L-A ♪</i>

3
00:00:17,018 --> 00:00:18,603
<i>♪ A-K ♪</i>

4
00:00:18,687 --> 00:00:20,563
<i>♪ E-L ♪</i>

5
00:00:20,647 --> 00:00:24,025
<i>♪ E-L-A-H ♪</i>

6
00:00:24,109 --> 00:00:25,610
<i>♪ K-E-E ♪</i>

7
00:00:25,694 --> 00:00:27,696
<i>♪ A-K-E-E-L-A-H ♪</i>

8
00:00:27,779 --> 00:00:29,030
<i>♪ Akeelah ♪</i>

9
00:00:29,114 --> 00:00:30,365
<i>♪ A-K-E ♪</i>

10
00:00:32,409 --> 00:00:34,285
<i>♪ E-L-A ♪</i>

11
00:00:34,369 --> 00:00:36,955
<i>♪ K-E, A-K ♪</i>

12
00:00:38,707 --> 00:00:40,291
<i>♪ K-E ♪</i>

13
00:00:40,375 --> 00:00:43,002
<i>♪ Akeelah, Akeelah, ♪
♪ Akeelah ♪</i>

14
00:00:43,086 --> 00:00:47,173
<i>♪ A-K-E-E-L-A-H-H-H ♪</i>

15
00:00:52,887 --> 00:00:54,514
[GIRL] <i>You know that feeling</i>

16
00:00:54,597 --> 00:00:56,933
<i>where no matter what you do
or where you go,</i>

17
00:00:57,016 --> 00:00:59,102
<i>you just don't fit in?</i>

18
00:00:59,185 --> 00:01:00,937
<i>Don't know the word for that.</i>

19
00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:02,439
<i>Alienation?</i>

20
00:01:02,522 --> 00:01:04,023
<i>Estrangement?</i>

21
00:01:04,107 --> 00:01:05,734
<i>Incompatibility?</i>

22
00:01:05,817 --> 00:01:07,986
<i>Nah, those ain't right.</i>

23
00:01:08,069 --> 00:01:10,113
<i>But there's gotta be a word for it.</i>

24
00:01:10,196 --> 00:01:12,782
<i>'cause it's how I feel all the time.</i>

25
00:01:12,866 --> 00:01:16,828
<i>My name's Akeelah Anderson
and I'm 11 years old,</i>

26
00:01:16,911 --> 00:01:22,083
<i>and this all starts at Crenshaw
Middle School in South Los Angeles.</i>

27
00:01:23,877 --> 00:01:26,296
[BELL RINGS]

28
00:01:26,379 --> 00:01:28,882
♫

29
00:01:35,638 --> 00:01:39,726
You're all in the seventh grade now,
and I know you can do better than this.

30
00:01:39,809 --> 00:01:43,730
So when I give you
a list of words, study them.

31
00:01:43,813 --> 00:01:45,607
Akeelah!

32
00:01:45,690 --> 00:01:47,650
How long did you study
for this spelling test?

33
00:01:49,110 --> 00:01:50,779
[GIGGLING]

34
00:01:50,862 --> 00:01:52,363
I didn't.

35
00:01:52,447 --> 00:01:53,907
[KIDS LAUGH]

36
00:01:55,283 --> 00:01:56,910
See me after class.

37
00:01:56,993 --> 00:02:00,705
Okay, you two need
to turn around. Enough!

38
00:02:01,706 --> 00:02:03,249
[BELL RINGS]

39
00:02:03,333 --> 00:02:06,544
You know, you could be
one of my very best students.

40
00:02:06,628 --> 00:02:08,671
But you don't turn in
half your homework.

41
00:02:08,755 --> 00:02:11,007
Sometimes you don't even
show up for class.

42
00:02:11,090 --> 00:02:13,468
- What's going on?
- I don't know.

43
00:02:14,886 --> 00:02:15,887
[TAPPING ON WINDOW]

44
00:02:18,306 --> 00:02:19,766
Have you heard of…

45
00:02:21,601 --> 00:02:23,603
Have you heard
of next week's spelling bee?

46
00:02:23,686 --> 00:02:24,896
No.

47
00:02:24,979 --> 00:02:27,690
Well, I think you should
sign up for it.

48
00:02:32,779 --> 00:02:35,156
Does he really think I'm gonna be walking
around with somebody

49
00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,034
in little shorts like that?
He crazy.

50
00:02:38,117 --> 00:02:39,869
Oh! Is Devon coming back today?

51
00:02:39,953 --> 00:02:41,746
Yeah, he got a 2-week leave.

52
00:02:41,830 --> 00:02:45,291
Your brother is fine.
I got it all figured out, look.

53
00:02:45,375 --> 00:02:47,585
He's gonna be the pilot
on a big commercial jet,

54
00:02:47,669 --> 00:02:50,421
and I'm gonna be
the flight attendant. Hey!

55
00:02:50,505 --> 00:02:53,424
Spare some change
for an old man, girls?

56
00:02:53,508 --> 00:02:55,093
I ain't got no change myself.

57
00:02:55,176 --> 00:02:58,596
[RAP MUSIC PLAYING IN CAR]

58
00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,641
Damn! Derrick-T's new ride is tight!

59
00:03:03,393 --> 00:03:06,145
He been trying
to get Terrence in trouble.

60
00:03:06,229 --> 00:03:08,731
Girl, your brother can get
his own self in trouble.

61
00:03:08,815 --> 00:03:11,359
- So what did Ms. Cross want?
- Nothing.

62
00:03:11,442 --> 00:03:13,903
Just talking about some
stupid ass spelling bee.

63
00:03:13,987 --> 00:03:16,906
You gonna do it?
You probably be good.

64
00:03:16,990 --> 00:03:21,828
And get up in front of everybody?
I'd probably pee in my pants.

65
00:03:21,911 --> 00:03:24,330
So, tell me about the boy
in your class with the shorts.

66
00:03:24,414 --> 00:03:25,915
I think he is cute.

67
00:03:25,999 --> 00:03:27,375
♫

68
00:03:27,458 --> 00:03:29,127
[WHOOSH]

69
00:03:30,378 --> 00:03:31,629
- [BELL RINGS]
- [AKEELAH] Yes!

70
00:03:37,302 --> 00:03:39,220
[FIREWORKS EXPLODING]

71
00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,765
Yes!

72
00:03:42,849 --> 00:03:44,100
Keelie, Mama says go eat.

73
00:03:44,183 --> 00:03:45,852
I'm about to get
a high score. One minute.

74
00:03:45,935 --> 00:03:48,021
I don't care.
Mama says go eat.

75
00:03:48,104 --> 00:03:51,566
Oh, yeah! I've been dreaming about
your cooking for the past five months.

76
00:03:51,649 --> 00:03:52,650
Here, let me take that.

77
00:03:52,734 --> 00:03:55,403
At least I got one baby appreciate
what I do around here.

78
00:03:55,486 --> 00:03:58,781
We all appreciate you.
Hey! Give me some sugar.

79
00:03:58,865 --> 00:03:59,908
Where is Terrence?

80
00:03:59,991 --> 00:04:01,492
I don't know. Maybe he's
still at practice.

81
00:04:01,576 --> 00:04:03,286
Practice was over an hour ago.

82
00:04:03,369 --> 00:04:05,705
I know one thing, he better not be
hanging out with no Derrick-T.

83
00:04:05,788 --> 00:04:07,874
Derrick-T?
That fool still alive?

84
00:04:07,957 --> 00:04:10,001
- Not after you get done with him.
- That's right.

85
00:04:10,084 --> 00:04:11,336
Hey, you.

86
00:04:11,419 --> 00:04:13,379
So, how may planes have
you shot down so far?

87
00:04:13,463 --> 00:04:14,464
So far, zero.

88
00:04:14,547 --> 00:04:15,798
But you don't do too much shooting

89
00:04:15,882 --> 00:04:17,592
sitting behind
a computer screen in Nevada.

90
00:04:17,675 --> 00:04:19,677
Well, good.
You stay on the ground.

91
00:04:19,761 --> 00:04:21,054
Let them white boys go up there.

92
00:04:21,137 --> 00:04:22,597
You stay down here
where you belong.

93
00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,975
Mama, I'm gonna have my wings
and my college degree before you know it.

94
00:04:26,059 --> 00:04:27,810
Unless, of course,
this one beats me to it.

95
00:04:27,894 --> 00:04:29,979
Not skipping class
with Georgia Cavanaugh she won't.

96
00:04:30,063 --> 00:04:32,357
- Skipping class?
- Only P.E.

97
00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:33,775
You better not be skipping no class.

98
00:04:33,858 --> 00:04:35,985
Akeelah, go turn off the television.

99
00:04:36,069 --> 00:04:38,237
Hey, hey.
Flip it over to ESPN real quick,

100
00:04:38,321 --> 00:04:40,615
let me check out
the Lakers score, all right?

101
00:04:40,698 --> 00:04:43,993
[TANYA] I need you to talk
to Terrence.

102
00:04:44,077 --> 00:04:47,080
[MAN ON TV]<i>…no more glue traps
and no more throwing your money away.</i>

103
00:04:47,163 --> 00:04:48,414
<i>The scientific design…</i>

104
00:04:48,498 --> 00:04:52,126
<i>If you spell the next word correctly,
you will be the champion.</i>

105
00:04:52,210 --> 00:04:55,421
- What's this?
- Akeelah, turn off the TV now.

106
00:04:55,505 --> 00:04:56,798
[MAN ON TV] <i>"Brunneous."</i>

107
00:04:56,881 --> 00:05:01,761
<i>B-R-U-N-</i>

108
00:05:01,844 --> 00:05:05,264
<i>N-E-O-U-S. Brunneous?</i>

109
00:05:05,348 --> 00:05:06,599
[FEMALE JUDGE]
<i>Congratulations!</i>

110
00:05:06,683 --> 00:05:10,478
<i>You are the Scripps
National Spelling Bee champion.</i>

111
00:05:12,188 --> 00:05:16,317
Akeelah needs to <i>listen!</i>
Turn it off now!

112
00:05:18,903 --> 00:05:22,323
Brunneous. Brunneous.

113
00:05:26,244 --> 00:05:31,916
"Brunneous. Dark brown,
used chiefly scientifically."

114
00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,544
Well, why can't they just say brown?

115
00:05:36,796 --> 00:05:39,674
Daddy, have you ever
heard of this word?

116
00:05:44,804 --> 00:05:47,640
Yeah. You probably did.

117
00:05:52,353 --> 00:05:55,023
"Cauterize."
C-A-U-T-E-R-I-Z-E.

118
00:05:55,106 --> 00:05:59,777
"Fortification."
F-O-R-T-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.

119
00:05:59,861 --> 00:06:04,282
"Correspond."
C-O-R-R-E-S-P-O-N-D.

120
00:06:04,365 --> 00:06:06,284
- [SIRENS WAILING]
- [HELICOPTER APPROACHING]

121
00:06:10,663 --> 00:06:13,166
[BELL RINGS]

122
00:06:14,500 --> 00:06:17,003
- [KIDS CHATTERING]
- [P.A. INDISTINCT]

123
00:06:27,555 --> 00:06:29,098
Hey, freak.

124
00:06:30,475 --> 00:06:32,393
We want you to take care
of our English homework.

125
00:06:32,477 --> 00:06:34,228
Everybody say you a brainiac.

126
00:06:34,312 --> 00:06:37,148
- I ain't no brainiac.
- Like hell you ain't!

127
00:06:37,231 --> 00:06:39,692
Always got them A's down, right?

128
00:06:39,776 --> 00:06:42,987
- Yeah, she's scared.
- Don't run away from us!

129
00:06:43,071 --> 00:06:45,698
I cannot thank you enough
for coming down here today, Josh.

130
00:06:45,782 --> 00:06:48,242
I got the district
breathing down my back.

131
00:06:48,326 --> 00:06:50,453
The test scores have
gone down again this year.

132
00:06:50,536 --> 00:06:54,290
As I said earlier, I appreciate
your dilemma, Bob, but…

133
00:06:55,291 --> 00:06:57,502
I really don't understand
what it is I have to offer you.

134
00:06:57,585 --> 00:06:59,796
All I want you to do
is look at these kids

135
00:06:59,879 --> 00:07:01,923
and tell me if you think
my idea's crazy.

136
00:07:02,006 --> 00:07:04,300
I think some of them have
a lot of potential.

137
00:07:04,383 --> 00:07:06,511
Girls! Why aren't you in class?!

138
00:07:06,594 --> 00:07:08,679
- She held us up.
- Akeelah!

139
00:07:11,307 --> 00:07:13,476
Are you signed up
for the spelling bee today?

140
00:07:13,559 --> 00:07:14,936
No.

141
00:07:16,104 --> 00:07:17,939
I want you to come to my office, please.

142
00:07:20,358 --> 00:07:25,446
So, Ms. Cross tells me you've never missed
a word on your spelling tests,

143
00:07:25,530 --> 00:07:29,909
but your attendance record
leaves a little to be desired.

144
00:07:29,992 --> 00:07:32,662
You're 11.
Did you skip a grade?

145
00:07:32,745 --> 00:07:34,122
The second.

146
00:07:36,707 --> 00:07:40,586
Akeelah, have you ever heard
of the Scripps National Spelling Bee?

147
00:07:40,670 --> 00:07:42,463
I think it was on TV last week.

148
00:07:42,547 --> 00:07:46,092
Yes! Yes, they show it
on ESPN every year.

149
00:07:46,175 --> 00:07:48,427
Middle school students
from all over the country

150
00:07:48,511 --> 00:07:53,015
compete in school, district,
and regional spelling bees

151
00:07:53,099 --> 00:07:56,561
trying to make it to the National Spelling
Bee in Washington D.C.

152
00:07:56,644 --> 00:07:59,605
Next year, I want
one of our students there.

153
00:07:59,689 --> 00:08:02,650
So whoever wins the school bee today

154
00:08:02,733 --> 00:08:06,529
gets to represent Crenshaw
at the district bee next month.

155
00:08:06,612 --> 00:08:08,489
Why would anybody want
to represent a school

156
00:08:08,573 --> 00:08:11,200
that can't even put doors
on the toilet stalls?

157
00:08:11,284 --> 00:08:12,535
[COUGHS]

158
00:08:14,662 --> 00:08:17,456
Akeelah, if we can't show
our students can perform,

159
00:08:17,540 --> 00:08:20,835
we're not gonna have money for books,
let alone bathroom doors.

160
00:08:20,918 --> 00:08:22,879
Now, I want you to do
the bee today, all right?

161
00:08:22,962 --> 00:08:25,423
So everybody can call me
a freak and a brainiac?

162
00:08:25,506 --> 00:08:28,426
No. I ain't down for no spelling bee.

163
00:08:28,509 --> 00:08:31,304
Well, maybe you'd be "down"

164
00:08:31,387 --> 00:08:36,392
for spending the rest of the semester
in detention for all your absences.

165
00:08:36,475 --> 00:08:37,977
[MS. CROSS]
I'd like to welcome you all

166
00:08:38,060 --> 00:08:41,606
to Crenshaw's first
school-wide spelling bee.

167
00:08:41,689 --> 00:08:45,151
We have some very special
students competing today.

168
00:08:45,234 --> 00:08:47,612
So let's give them all
a round of applause.

169
00:08:47,695 --> 00:08:50,323
[BOOS]

170
00:08:50,406 --> 00:08:51,657
Whoo!

171
00:08:53,075 --> 00:08:56,746
[MS. CROSS] Okay. We drew numbers
to see who would go first,

172
00:08:56,829 --> 00:09:00,208
and that's Chuckie Johnson
from the eighth grade.

173
00:09:00,291 --> 00:09:03,085
<i>♪ Hey, hey, hey, ♪
♪ Chuckie, baby ♪</i>

174
00:09:03,169 --> 00:09:05,671
Mr. Welch, I have a question
about the basketball nets.

175
00:09:05,755 --> 00:09:07,506
Chuckie!

176
00:09:07,590 --> 00:09:08,883
You need to pay attention.

177
00:09:08,966 --> 00:09:12,803
Now, we're gonna start things off
with "grovel."

178
00:09:12,887 --> 00:09:14,889
Gravel? Like little rocks?

179
00:09:14,972 --> 00:09:17,433
- [GIRLS LAUGHING]
- No, "grovel."

180
00:09:17,516 --> 00:09:20,853
Like "get down on your knees
and grovel."

181
00:09:20,937 --> 00:09:23,105
Get down on my knees? What?

182
00:09:23,189 --> 00:09:25,066
Just spell the word.

183
00:09:25,149 --> 00:09:30,738
Uh, G-R-A-V-E-L.

184
00:09:30,821 --> 00:09:33,199
No, Chuckie,
you spelt "gravel."

185
00:09:33,282 --> 00:09:36,953
I meant "grovel."
G-R-O-V-E-L.

186
00:09:37,036 --> 00:09:39,455
You weren't listening.
Sorry, Chuckie.

187
00:09:39,538 --> 00:09:41,082
Who cares?

188
00:09:41,165 --> 00:09:44,043
Okay. Next up,
Akeelah Anderson.

189
00:09:44,126 --> 00:09:47,672
Whoo! You go, girl!

190
00:09:47,755 --> 00:09:48,756
[BLOWS RASPBERRY]

191
00:09:48,839 --> 00:09:54,136
Akeelah, your word
is "doubt." Doubt.

192
00:09:54,220 --> 00:09:55,888
[SOFTLY]
D-O-U-B-T.

193
00:09:55,972 --> 00:09:58,891
I'm sorry, Akeelah,
you have to speak up.

194
00:09:58,975 --> 00:10:00,601
D-O-U-B-T.

195
00:10:00,685 --> 00:10:02,520
Very good.

196
00:10:05,690 --> 00:10:07,817
Next, Calvin Baker.

197
00:10:07,900 --> 00:10:12,571
P-L-A-S-I-D.
Placid.

198
00:10:12,655 --> 00:10:18,077
I'm sorry.
It's P-L-A-C-I-D.

199
00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:19,245
[APPLAUSE]

200
00:10:21,330 --> 00:10:24,458
Okay, Akeelah, if you get this word,
you'll be the winner.

201
00:10:24,542 --> 00:10:26,877
"Fanciful."

202
00:10:26,961 --> 00:10:28,671
[QUICKLY]
F-A-N-C-I-F-U-L.

203
00:10:28,754 --> 00:10:30,548
- [KID] Whoa!
- That is correct,

204
00:10:30,631 --> 00:10:33,718
and you have won Crenshaw's
inaugural spelling bee.

205
00:10:33,801 --> 00:10:35,344
Whoo!

206
00:10:35,428 --> 00:10:36,804
Whatever.

207
00:10:41,142 --> 00:10:43,185
Excuse me.

208
00:10:44,395 --> 00:10:46,480
Spell "prestidigitation."

209
00:10:47,773 --> 00:10:52,737
I'm sorry, sir, but this girl is only 11
and she has already won.

210
00:10:52,820 --> 00:10:54,405
Mr. Welch, what is this?

211
00:10:56,991 --> 00:11:00,286
"Prestidigitation."
Can you spell it?

212
00:11:08,753 --> 00:11:13,841
P-R-E-S-T-I-D-I-G-I-T-A-T-I-O-N.

213
00:11:13,924 --> 00:11:16,844
- [STUDENTS] Whoa!
- Prestidigitation.

214
00:11:16,927 --> 00:11:19,680
- That's correct.
- Whoo!

215
00:11:23,392 --> 00:11:24,685
"Ambidextrous."

216
00:11:24,769 --> 00:11:28,397
A-M-B-I-D-E-X-T-R-O-U-S.

217
00:11:28,481 --> 00:11:29,815
"Pterodactyl."

218
00:11:29,899 --> 00:11:33,444
P-T-E-R-O-D-A-C-T-Y-L.

219
00:11:33,527 --> 00:11:34,820
"Pulchritude."

220
00:11:34,904 --> 00:11:36,197
P…

221
00:11:40,659 --> 00:11:43,371
P-U-L-C…

222
00:11:46,123 --> 00:11:48,376
R…

223
00:11:48,459 --> 00:11:51,837
I-T-U-D-E.

224
00:11:53,047 --> 00:11:56,050
- Pulchritude?
- That's incorrect.

225
00:11:56,133 --> 00:11:58,636
It's from
the Latin root <i>pulcher,</i>

226
00:11:58,719 --> 00:12:01,972
and there's an "h" after the "c".

227
00:12:05,017 --> 00:12:07,144
See? She ain't so smart!

228
00:12:07,228 --> 00:12:08,604
[BOTH LAUGH]

229
00:12:13,776 --> 00:12:16,445
- Run, Forrest! See ya!
- Bye, sweetie!

230
00:12:17,822 --> 00:12:21,033
Akeelah! Wait!
Where are you going?

231
00:12:21,117 --> 00:12:22,576
You did great!

232
00:12:22,660 --> 00:12:24,453
You were spelling words
I don't know how to spell.

233
00:12:24,537 --> 00:12:27,039
Mr. Welch, I told you
I didn't wanna do this.

234
00:12:27,123 --> 00:12:28,541
They're laughing at me!

235
00:12:28,624 --> 00:12:31,377
They laugh
because you intimidate them.

236
00:12:31,460 --> 00:12:34,672
But if you'd stood your ground,
you might have earned their respect.

237
00:12:34,755 --> 00:12:39,176
Bob, the girl has potential, but… she
needs to be coached.

238
00:12:41,637 --> 00:12:42,888
Do you know who that was?

239
00:12:42,972 --> 00:12:45,224
That was Dr. Joshua Larabee.

240
00:12:45,307 --> 00:12:47,518
He used to chair
the English department at UCLA.

241
00:12:47,601 --> 00:12:49,895
He and I went to college
together, but get this.

242
00:12:49,979 --> 00:12:53,315
When he was a kid, he went all the way
to the National Spelling Bee,

243
00:12:53,399 --> 00:12:56,402
and he thinks you have a chance
of going there yourself.

244
00:12:56,485 --> 00:13:00,322
I'm sorry, but I ain't doing
no more spelling bees.

245
00:13:00,406 --> 00:13:01,699
Akeelah…

246
00:13:03,993 --> 00:13:07,163
Girl, you kicked some major booty
on that stage today.

247
00:13:07,246 --> 00:13:09,498
But I couldn't spell "pulchritude."

248
00:13:09,582 --> 00:13:12,168
But you knocked out them other words
right back at that dude.

249
00:13:12,251 --> 00:13:13,502
They were just trick words.

250
00:13:13,586 --> 00:13:16,714
Everybody know "pterodactyl"
starts with a "p".

251
00:13:16,797 --> 00:13:18,299
Girl, if I could spell like you,

252
00:13:18,382 --> 00:13:21,343
I know I could be
a flight attendant. Hmm.

253
00:13:21,427 --> 00:13:23,762
[DISTANT BARKING]

254
00:13:23,846 --> 00:13:25,431
[DEVON] <i>Keelie, hey.
Wake up.</i>

255
00:13:27,850 --> 00:13:29,101
Hey.

256
00:13:30,519 --> 00:13:31,770
Dev, are you leaving?

257
00:13:31,854 --> 00:13:34,356
Yeah. Got to get back
to the base.

258
00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,734
Hey. Your principal called mama.

259
00:13:36,817 --> 00:13:39,528
Said you did real good
in a spelling bee last week.

260
00:13:39,612 --> 00:13:40,863
I messed up a word.

261
00:13:40,946 --> 00:13:42,698
Yeah, well, he said you got
a lot of them right.

262
00:13:42,781 --> 00:13:46,994
He also said you got an opportunity
to go to an even bigger contest next week.

263
00:13:47,077 --> 00:13:49,371
- I don't want to do it.
- Why not?

264
00:13:49,455 --> 00:13:51,165
Everybody's gonna be looking at me,

265
00:13:51,248 --> 00:13:53,834
and there's gonna be
tons of words I don't know.

266
00:13:53,918 --> 00:13:56,128
So you're scared, huh?

267
00:13:56,212 --> 00:13:57,546
[LAUGHS] Come on.
How do you think I felt

268
00:13:57,630 --> 00:13:59,423
the first time I had to jump
out of an airplane?

269
00:13:59,507 --> 00:14:02,635
I mean, my whole body
said, "Don't do it."

270
00:14:02,718 --> 00:14:05,804
Sometimes your brain gotta be
smarter than your body, you know?

271
00:14:05,888 --> 00:14:07,640
But I don't like my school.

272
00:14:07,723 --> 00:14:10,309
Don't see why I gotta do
anything for 'em.

273
00:14:13,312 --> 00:14:14,563
Then do it for Dad.

274
00:14:15,564 --> 00:14:17,608
I mean, you know
how he was about words.

275
00:14:17,691 --> 00:14:19,985
He'd love to see you
do something like this.

276
00:14:20,069 --> 00:14:22,029
What Mama say about it?

277
00:14:22,112 --> 00:14:23,572
[CHUCKLES]
You know how Mama is.

278
00:14:23,656 --> 00:14:25,699
She's got a million things
to worry about.

279
00:14:25,783 --> 00:14:29,828
Tell you what.
Just do this contest.

280
00:14:29,912 --> 00:14:34,375
And if you make it all the way to D.C.,
I will parachute down to see you.

281
00:14:34,458 --> 00:14:35,876
Would you like that?

282
00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,462
♫

283
00:14:53,269 --> 00:14:56,730
That is a wonderful decision, Akeelah.
A wonderful decision.

284
00:14:56,814 --> 00:14:59,692
You think maybe the school
could buy me a new outfit?

285
00:14:59,775 --> 00:15:02,528
You know, for the district bee?

286
00:15:02,611 --> 00:15:05,072
Uh… I don't know. Maybe.

287
00:15:05,155 --> 00:15:09,368
Uh, if you make it to the state regional,
maybe something could be arranged.

288
00:15:09,451 --> 00:15:13,330
But you're gonna have to finish
in the top 10 at the district level first.

289
00:15:13,414 --> 00:15:17,293
And, Akeelah, you're gonna be going up
against kids from Santa Monica,

290
00:15:17,376 --> 00:15:19,044
Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills.

291
00:15:19,128 --> 00:15:21,130
Some of these kids
have been doing this for years

292
00:15:21,213 --> 00:15:22,590
and never even made it to D.C.

293
00:15:22,673 --> 00:15:24,800
Well, maybe I should just give up now.

294
00:15:24,883 --> 00:15:29,263
No, no, no. No. I'm just saying
you need to train hard…

295
00:15:29,346 --> 00:15:31,181
with Dr. Larabee.

296
00:15:31,265 --> 00:15:34,935
What? I don't need any help from him.
I can do this on my own.

297
00:15:35,019 --> 00:15:37,771
Akeelah, the best spellers
in the world have coaches.

298
00:15:37,855 --> 00:15:39,148
And I finally got him to consider

299
00:15:39,231 --> 00:15:41,900
taking some time during his sabbatical
to work with you.

300
00:15:41,984 --> 00:15:45,613
Please, just talk with him. Here.

301
00:15:45,696 --> 00:15:49,491
- He doesn't live far from here.
- He lives in <i>this</i> neighborhood?

302
00:15:49,575 --> 00:15:51,702
I thought you said he was important.

303
00:15:51,785 --> 00:15:54,496
And take this. It's a copy
of last year's spelling bee.

304
00:15:54,580 --> 00:15:55,914
[JUDGE ON TV] <i>"Sacciform."</i>

305
00:15:55,998 --> 00:15:57,916
[BOY ON TV] <i>May I have
the definition, please?</i>

306
00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:59,293
[JUDGE] <i>Resembling a pouch.</i>

307
00:15:59,376 --> 00:16:00,878
<i>May I have the language
of origin, please?</i>

308
00:16:00,961 --> 00:16:02,212
[JUDGE] <i>Latin.</i>

309
00:16:02,296 --> 00:16:05,841
Latin? I thought this was
supposed to be English.

310
00:16:05,924 --> 00:16:08,218
[BOY ON TV]<i>…F-O-R…</i>

311
00:16:10,179 --> 00:16:11,263
<i>"Scutellate."</i>

312
00:16:11,347 --> 00:16:13,432
<i>- Can I have the definition?</i>
- [CLICKS]

313
00:16:13,515 --> 00:16:14,808
♫

314
00:16:14,892 --> 00:16:16,060
<i>"Longicollis."</i>

315
00:16:17,061 --> 00:16:18,145
<i>"Jingoists."</i>

316
00:16:18,228 --> 00:16:19,229
<i>"Empennage."</i>

317
00:16:19,313 --> 00:16:20,356
<i>"Souchong."</i>

318
00:16:20,439 --> 00:16:22,107
<i>- "Intussusception."</i>
- Hey, what's that?

319
00:16:23,984 --> 00:16:26,779
Where you been?
Mama's worried.

320
00:16:26,862 --> 00:16:29,448
Mama should just chill, all right?

321
00:16:29,531 --> 00:16:32,117
- What you looking at?
- Spelling bee.

322
00:16:32,201 --> 00:16:34,620
Oh, yeah, I heard about that.

323
00:16:34,703 --> 00:16:37,289
You're going up against
a bunch of rich, white kids.

324
00:16:37,373 --> 00:16:40,250
They're gonna tear your black ass up.

325
00:16:40,334 --> 00:16:42,211
[BELL RINGS]

326
00:16:42,294 --> 00:16:44,046
[JUDGE ON TV]
<i>"Intussusception" is</i>

327
00:16:44,129 --> 00:16:49,259
<i>I-N-T-U-S-S-U-S-C-E-P-T-I-O-N.</i>

328
00:16:49,343 --> 00:16:51,220
[APPLAUSE ON TV]

329
00:17:02,564 --> 00:17:04,149
[HAMMERING]

330
00:17:23,252 --> 00:17:24,878
You're late.

331
00:17:24,962 --> 00:17:26,505
You didn't answer the door.

332
00:17:26,588 --> 00:17:28,757
That's because
you're late. Come in.

333
00:17:30,050 --> 00:17:32,052
- Come. Come. Come.
- [DOOR SCREECHES]

334
00:17:36,265 --> 00:17:40,018
So… you wanna learn how to spell.

335
00:17:40,102 --> 00:17:41,687
I know how to spell.

336
00:17:41,770 --> 00:17:43,230
Spell "staphylococci."

337
00:17:43,313 --> 00:17:44,606
Um…

338
00:17:44,690 --> 00:17:48,402
- S-T-A-F…
- There is no "F".

339
00:17:48,485 --> 00:17:51,697
It's derived from the Greek,
so there can't be an "F".

340
00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:53,282
"Staphylococci."

341
00:17:53,365 --> 00:17:55,325
S-T-A-P-H-

342
00:17:55,409 --> 00:18:01,331
Y-L-O-C-O-C-C-I.

343
00:18:01,415 --> 00:18:05,002
Winning word,
National Spelling Bee, 1987.

344
00:18:05,085 --> 00:18:06,920
The first thing
most serious spellers do

345
00:18:07,004 --> 00:18:10,924
is learn all of the winning words
and their origins.

346
00:18:11,008 --> 00:18:13,051
Well, maybe I ain't that serious.

347
00:18:13,135 --> 00:18:15,429
Maybe neither am I.

348
00:18:17,306 --> 00:18:20,184
So why are you home during the day?
Ain't you got a job?

349
00:18:20,267 --> 00:18:23,228
Do me a favor. Leave the ghetto talk
outside, all right?

350
00:18:23,312 --> 00:18:24,980
Ghetto talk?
I don't talk ghetto.

351
00:18:25,063 --> 00:18:26,815
"Ain't you got no job?"

352
00:18:26,899 --> 00:18:29,818
You use that language
to fit in with your friends.

353
00:18:29,902 --> 00:18:32,654
Here you will speak properly
or you won't speak at all.

354
00:18:32,738 --> 00:18:35,324
- Understood?
- Yeah.

355
00:18:35,407 --> 00:18:36,909
Whatever.

356
00:18:36,992 --> 00:18:38,827
You can leave now.

357
00:18:38,911 --> 00:18:41,288
- Excuse me?
- I said you can leave.

358
00:18:41,371 --> 00:18:42,623
How come?

359
00:18:42,706 --> 00:18:46,668
Because I don't have time to waste
on insolent little girls.

360
00:18:46,752 --> 00:18:49,880
Insolent? I ain't in…

361
00:18:49,963 --> 00:18:51,590
I mean, I'm not insolent.

362
00:18:51,673 --> 00:18:55,427
It's just the first thing
you do is start doggin…

363
00:18:55,511 --> 00:18:57,930
criticizing the way I speak.

364
00:19:00,057 --> 00:19:02,476
I thought this was
just about spelling words.

365
00:19:05,562 --> 00:19:07,022
Well, then fine.

366
00:19:14,321 --> 00:19:17,074
You know what?

367
00:19:17,157 --> 00:19:20,619
When I put my mind to it,
I can memorize anything.

368
00:19:20,702 --> 00:19:23,247
And I don't need help
from a dictatorial,

369
00:19:23,330 --> 00:19:27,751
truculent,
supercilious gardener.

370
00:19:27,835 --> 00:19:30,712
I'm sorry to be so insolent.

371
00:19:30,796 --> 00:19:32,339
♫

372
00:19:39,805 --> 00:19:42,349
[AKEELAH SPELLING WORDS,
OVERLAPPING]

373
00:19:51,650 --> 00:19:52,901
[TANYA] Hey.

374
00:19:52,985 --> 00:19:54,403
Baby, what are you still doing up?

375
00:19:54,486 --> 00:19:56,655
Gotta learn more words.

376
00:19:56,738 --> 00:20:00,075
You gonna come see me
in the district bee this Saturday?

377
00:20:00,158 --> 00:20:01,869
What, is that at your school?

378
00:20:01,952 --> 00:20:04,121
Nah. Beverly Hills.

379
00:20:04,204 --> 00:20:07,207
Beverly Hills?

380
00:20:07,291 --> 00:20:10,878
Look, you got other homework.
You need to focus on that.

381
00:20:10,961 --> 00:20:12,921
I don't want you spending
all your time on this game.

382
00:20:13,005 --> 00:20:15,841
It ain't a game!
Are you gonna come see me in it?

383
00:20:15,924 --> 00:20:20,220
[SIGHS] You know I work
at the hospital on Saturday.

384
00:20:20,304 --> 00:20:21,805
Maybe Kiana can go with you.

385
00:20:21,889 --> 00:20:24,558
As long as she don't bring
that whiny baby.

386
00:20:24,641 --> 00:20:27,561
[BABY CRYING]

387
00:20:27,644 --> 00:20:30,689
Come on, girls, let's go.
We're gonna be late.

388
00:20:32,900 --> 00:20:35,402
[INDISTINCT TALKING, SPELLING PRACTICE]

389
00:20:41,950 --> 00:20:46,163
Dang. I hope
they ain't all here to spell.

390
00:20:46,246 --> 00:20:49,541
Okay, go get your number.
We'll be sitting back here.

391
00:20:49,625 --> 00:20:51,209
Good luck, Keelie.

392
00:20:53,629 --> 00:20:57,090
[INDISTINCT TALKING,
SPELLING PRACTICE CONTINUES]

393
00:21:10,437 --> 00:21:11,855
Hi. Name?

394
00:21:11,939 --> 00:21:13,690
Um, Akeelah Anderson.

395
00:21:13,774 --> 00:21:15,859
Oh. Right here at the top.

396
00:21:15,943 --> 00:21:19,154
Hmm. I think you're
the first speller we've ever had

397
00:21:19,237 --> 00:21:20,948
from Crenshaw Middle School.

398
00:21:21,031 --> 00:21:24,242
Um… how many kids
are in this thing?

399
00:21:24,326 --> 00:21:28,080
139. Next?

400
00:21:33,877 --> 00:21:35,128
Need some help?

401
00:21:35,212 --> 00:21:37,965
Don't worry.
I won't impale you.

402
00:21:38,048 --> 00:21:39,549
This your first time?

403
00:21:39,633 --> 00:21:42,761
- Yeah. You?
- Second year.

404
00:21:42,844 --> 00:21:44,429
I made it to Nationals last year.

405
00:21:44,513 --> 00:21:47,849
Finished 13th. Lucky 13!

406
00:21:47,933 --> 00:21:50,268
You went all the way to D.C.?

407
00:21:50,352 --> 00:21:53,689
Three of us made it from my school
in Woodland Hills.

408
00:21:53,772 --> 00:21:55,023
See that kid right there?

409
00:21:55,107 --> 00:21:57,526
That's Dylan Chiu.

410
00:21:57,609 --> 00:22:00,570
He's come in second place at the nationals
for two years in a row.

411
00:22:00,654 --> 00:22:03,865
This is his last year and everybody thinks
he's gonna win.

412
00:22:03,949 --> 00:22:06,618
Frankly, I'd like to shove him
off a steep precipice.

413
00:22:08,412 --> 00:22:10,288
Hey, my name's Javier.

414
00:22:10,372 --> 00:22:12,082
- I'm Akeelah.
- Hope you make the top 10.

415
00:22:12,165 --> 00:22:13,667
I hope I'm not the first one out.

416
00:22:13,750 --> 00:22:16,545
[MAN ON P.A.] <i>Will all the spellers take
their positions on the stage, please?</i>

417
00:22:16,628 --> 00:22:18,338
Now remember, if you don't know
how to spell a word,

418
00:22:18,422 --> 00:22:19,673
spell it the way it sounds.

419
00:22:19,756 --> 00:22:23,468
Kids mess up all the time when they think
they're being thrown curveballs

420
00:22:23,552 --> 00:22:24,886
and they're not. Good luck.

421
00:22:24,970 --> 00:22:26,596
- Good luck to you, too.
- Thank you.

422
00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,809
[GIRL] E-M-

423
00:22:30,892 --> 00:22:35,480
B-R-I-

424
00:22:35,564 --> 00:22:37,315
C-A…

425
00:22:39,526 --> 00:22:42,154
T-I-O-N.

426
00:22:42,237 --> 00:22:44,281
"Embrocation."

427
00:22:44,364 --> 00:22:47,075
- [BELL RINGS]
- [CROWD MOANS]

428
00:22:53,582 --> 00:22:54,666
"Rhesus."

429
00:22:54,750 --> 00:22:56,626
"Recess?"

430
00:22:56,710 --> 00:22:58,420
May I have a definition, please?

431
00:22:58,503 --> 00:23:02,340
A brownish-yellow
monkey of India.

432
00:23:02,424 --> 00:23:04,801
Ah. "Rhesus."

433
00:23:04,885 --> 00:23:08,221
R-H-E-S-U-S.
"Rhesus."

434
00:23:09,723 --> 00:23:11,475
- That's correct.
- [APPLAUSE]

435
00:23:12,934 --> 00:23:15,896
- [MAKING MONKEY SOUNDS]
- [LAUGHTER]

436
00:23:24,488 --> 00:23:25,822
Number 54?

437
00:23:35,916 --> 00:23:38,001
[FEMALE JUDGE] "Eminent."

438
00:23:41,129 --> 00:23:43,173
[MALE JUDGE] Did you hear the word?

439
00:23:43,256 --> 00:23:48,303
I'm not sure if you're saying
"imminent" or "eminent".

440
00:23:48,386 --> 00:23:50,222
Would you like a definition?

441
00:23:50,305 --> 00:23:52,849
- That'd be cool.
- [AUDIENCE LAUGHS]

442
00:23:55,477 --> 00:23:56,770
[FEMALE JUDGE] "Eminent.

443
00:23:56,853 --> 00:23:59,564
Rising above other things or places.

444
00:23:59,648 --> 00:24:01,775
High, lofty.

445
00:24:01,858 --> 00:24:03,401
Eminent."

446
00:24:04,653 --> 00:24:07,072
E-M-I-

447
00:24:07,155 --> 00:24:09,825
N-E-N-T.

448
00:24:09,908 --> 00:24:11,785
"Eminent"?

449
00:24:11,868 --> 00:24:13,495
That's correct.

450
00:24:13,578 --> 00:24:14,955
[APPLAUSE]

451
00:24:21,837 --> 00:24:24,631
♫

452
00:24:24,714 --> 00:24:26,383
[MALE JUDGE] That's correct.

453
00:24:32,681 --> 00:24:34,224
"Hypertrophic."

454
00:24:34,307 --> 00:24:37,644
H-Y-P-E-R-T-R-O-P-H-I-C.

455
00:24:37,727 --> 00:24:38,979
"Hypertrophic."

456
00:24:39,062 --> 00:24:40,355
[MALE JUDGE] That's correct.

457
00:24:49,030 --> 00:24:50,490
That's correct.

458
00:24:56,496 --> 00:24:58,039
[FEMALE JUDGE] "Concierge."

459
00:24:58,123 --> 00:25:00,500
Is that like a guy
who stands around in a hotel?

460
00:25:00,584 --> 00:25:02,294
[MALE JUDGE]
Speak into the mic, please.

461
00:25:02,377 --> 00:25:06,590
[FEMALE JUDGE] And yes,
it's a head porter or doorkeeper.

462
00:25:06,673 --> 00:25:10,051
C-O-N-C-

463
00:25:10,135 --> 00:25:14,514
- I-E-R-G-E.
- [MALE JUDGE] That's correct.

464
00:25:19,144 --> 00:25:20,395
You're doing great.

465
00:25:20,478 --> 00:25:24,316
I'm gettin' lucky.
I could be gettin' words like…

466
00:25:24,399 --> 00:25:26,568
- [CONTESTANT] "Polydactyly."
- [BELL RINGS]

467
00:25:30,322 --> 00:25:32,908
[MALE JUDGE] We're down to 11 spellers.

468
00:25:32,991 --> 00:25:37,454
The top 10 qualify for the Southern
California regional finals.

469
00:25:37,537 --> 00:25:39,998
- In the next round…
- [BABY CRIES]

470
00:25:43,043 --> 00:25:46,421
If you miss a word,
do not leave the stage…

471
00:25:46,504 --> 00:25:48,965
[CRYING CONTINUES]

472
00:25:49,049 --> 00:25:53,970
…as you may have an opportunity
to compete for any remaining places.

473
00:25:54,054 --> 00:25:56,223
Kiana! Get that baby out of here!

474
00:25:59,768 --> 00:26:01,019
[MALE JUDGE] So…

475
00:26:02,395 --> 00:26:04,189
[DOOR SLAMS]

476
00:26:04,272 --> 00:26:06,274
Let's begin.

477
00:26:06,358 --> 00:26:09,945
…L-L-O G-I-Z-E.

478
00:26:10,028 --> 00:26:12,405
- "Syllogize"?
- That's correct.

479
00:26:12,489 --> 00:26:13,782
[CHEERS]

480
00:26:24,167 --> 00:26:25,502
"Synecdoche."

481
00:26:25,585 --> 00:26:28,129
♫

482
00:26:30,173 --> 00:26:31,716
Synecdo-key?

483
00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,427
"Synecdoche."

484
00:26:36,721 --> 00:26:38,515
You wanna tell me what that means?

485
00:26:38,598 --> 00:26:42,602
"A figure of speech,
in which a part is used for a whole.

486
00:26:42,686 --> 00:26:45,146
An individual for a class,

487
00:26:45,230 --> 00:26:47,232
a material for a thing,

488
00:26:47,315 --> 00:26:49,693
or the reverse of any of these."

489
00:26:53,488 --> 00:26:54,739
[MICROPHONE FEEDBACK]

490
00:26:57,659 --> 00:27:00,120
[MALE JUDGE]
We need you to spell the word.

491
00:27:00,203 --> 00:27:02,914
[SHAKILY] S…

492
00:27:06,001 --> 00:27:07,460
I…

493
00:27:10,297 --> 00:27:12,299
N-

494
00:27:12,382 --> 00:27:14,509
E-

495
00:27:14,592 --> 00:27:17,846
C-

496
00:27:17,929 --> 00:27:19,806
D-O-

497
00:27:25,645 --> 00:27:28,106
K-E-Y?

498
00:27:28,189 --> 00:27:31,318
"Synecdoche"?

499
00:27:31,401 --> 00:27:33,611
- [BELL RINGS]
- [CROWD MOANS]

500
00:27:33,695 --> 00:27:35,822
[FEMALE JUDGE]
The correct spelling is

501
00:27:35,905 --> 00:27:41,411
S-Y-N-E-C-D-O-C-H-E.

502
00:27:48,543 --> 00:27:51,129
[MALE JUDGE] If you spell
this correctly,

503
00:27:51,212 --> 00:27:54,215
you'll be our 10th and last finalist.

504
00:27:54,299 --> 00:27:55,967
[FEMALE JUDGE] "Carmagnole."

505
00:28:00,305 --> 00:28:02,640
Could I get a definition, please?

506
00:28:02,724 --> 00:28:05,143
[FEMALE JUDGE]
"A lively song and street dance."

507
00:28:06,728 --> 00:28:09,606
Um… C-

508
00:28:10,607 --> 00:28:12,150
A-

509
00:28:12,233 --> 00:28:13,777
R-

510
00:28:13,860 --> 00:28:17,364
M-A…

511
00:28:28,666 --> 00:28:31,503
G-N-O-L-E.

512
00:28:31,586 --> 00:28:33,797
- "Carmagnole."
- [MALE JUDGE] That's correct.

513
00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:38,176
And that means you are our 10th
and last finalist for the district bee.

514
00:28:38,259 --> 00:28:39,719
[APPLAUSE]

515
00:28:42,972 --> 00:28:44,224
[KIANA] They cheated!

516
00:28:44,307 --> 00:28:46,976
They cheated!
I saw them!

517
00:28:47,060 --> 00:28:48,645
That boy's mama helped him out!

518
00:28:48,728 --> 00:28:50,730
[MALE JUDGE] But… Excuse me.

519
00:28:50,814 --> 00:28:52,857
[LAUGHS]
Who are you?

520
00:28:52,941 --> 00:28:54,317
I'm Keelie's sister.

521
00:28:54,401 --> 00:28:55,693
I was standin' right back there,

522
00:28:55,777 --> 00:28:58,196
and I saw that boy's mama
give him the letter "G".

523
00:28:58,279 --> 00:29:00,323
She was sayin' "geeeee."

524
00:29:00,407 --> 00:29:03,243
I… he knew the word!
I… I mean, it's one we studied.

525
00:29:03,326 --> 00:29:05,370
- You… he knew it…
- Ma'am.

526
00:29:05,453 --> 00:29:07,622
Did you help your child
spell the word?

527
00:29:07,705 --> 00:29:09,165
[PEOPLE MURMURING]

528
00:29:09,249 --> 00:29:11,626
Ma'am, this is serious business.

529
00:29:16,005 --> 00:29:17,757
Oh! You're damn right it's serious!

530
00:29:17,841 --> 00:29:19,884
You know, you are gonna give
these kids ulcers!

531
00:29:19,968 --> 00:29:22,679
Do you know how long
he has studied for this?

532
00:29:22,762 --> 00:29:25,265
- He knew that word!
- [CONTESTANT] No.

533
00:29:25,348 --> 00:29:28,184
- I didn't.
- [AUDIENCE GASPS]

534
00:29:30,979 --> 00:29:36,276
I'm sorry. Number 62,
you are disqualified from competition.

535
00:29:36,359 --> 00:29:39,070
Which means, number 54,

536
00:29:39,154 --> 00:29:42,198
if you can spell
one more word correctly,

537
00:29:42,282 --> 00:29:46,202
you'll be our 10th and last finalist.

538
00:29:46,286 --> 00:29:48,288
♫

539
00:29:55,170 --> 00:29:56,254
"Pastiche."

540
00:30:01,217 --> 00:30:05,889
P-A-S-T-I-C-H-E.

541
00:30:05,972 --> 00:30:07,765
"Pastiche."

542
00:30:07,849 --> 00:30:09,476
- That's correct.
- [CHEERS]

543
00:30:09,559 --> 00:30:10,935
That means you've qualified

544
00:30:11,019 --> 00:30:13,897
for the Southern California
regional finals.

545
00:30:17,817 --> 00:30:20,778
Here's my number. We have
a spelling club in my school.

546
00:30:20,862 --> 00:30:22,780
Maybe you should come
practice with us sometime.

547
00:30:22,864 --> 00:30:25,116
- That sounds fun.
- Yeah, it's cool.

548
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:26,618
Hey, there's my folks.

549
00:30:26,701 --> 00:30:28,369
- I'll catch you later.
- Okay.

550
00:30:28,453 --> 00:30:29,871
- Bye.
- Bye.

551
00:30:29,954 --> 00:30:31,372
Hey, check it out.
Look at this.

552
00:30:31,456 --> 00:30:33,833
I'll be at USC this year.

553
00:30:33,917 --> 00:30:35,043
Just think, Akeelah.

554
00:30:35,126 --> 00:30:38,671
All you've got to do is place
in the top three of the state regionals,

555
00:30:38,755 --> 00:30:41,341
you're going to Washington D.C.

556
00:30:41,424 --> 00:30:44,052
Not if I can't
spell "synecdoche."

557
00:30:44,135 --> 00:30:46,179
Uh-oh, y'all. Look.

558
00:30:46,262 --> 00:30:47,472
[POLICE SIREN]

559
00:30:47,555 --> 00:30:50,183
As long as you live in my house,
you will do what I say.

560
00:30:50,266 --> 00:30:51,267
- Mom…
- And what I say?

561
00:30:51,351 --> 00:30:53,061
No drugs. No gang-bangers.

562
00:30:53,144 --> 00:30:55,230
And no $300 watches.
Take it off.

563
00:30:55,313 --> 00:30:56,606
[TERRENCE]
Derrick-T gave me this, mom.

564
00:30:56,689 --> 00:30:58,191
He did? Then I'm gonna
give it right back…

565
00:30:58,274 --> 00:31:00,568
- Mom.
- What? You two get inside.

566
00:31:00,652 --> 00:31:01,903
Take it off.

567
00:31:01,986 --> 00:31:05,365
- But, mama, I made it.
- Made what?

568
00:31:05,448 --> 00:31:08,660
Made the cut. I'm going
to the regional bee.

569
00:31:08,743 --> 00:31:09,994
Yeah. While you doin' that,

570
00:31:10,078 --> 00:31:12,914
I'm gonna be identifyin'
your brother here in the morgue.

571
00:31:12,997 --> 00:31:14,499
- No, you're not.
- Yes, I am. Get inside,

572
00:31:14,582 --> 00:31:17,252
before I really
embarrass your behind.

573
00:31:17,335 --> 00:31:19,003
Akeelah?

574
00:31:19,087 --> 00:31:20,964
Akeelah, get in here!

575
00:31:22,298 --> 00:31:26,594
It's okay, Mr. Welch.
I'll see you later.

576
00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:30,932
[TANYA] What is the problem?
Why do you have the police…

577
00:31:31,015 --> 00:31:33,560
- [TERRENCE] Mom…
- …at 9:00 at night?

578
00:31:33,643 --> 00:31:34,811
Guess what?

579
00:31:34,894 --> 00:31:37,272
[BICKERING CONTINUES INDISTINCT]

580
00:31:37,355 --> 00:31:40,858
I'm goin' to the regional bee.

581
00:31:40,942 --> 00:31:44,362
[TANYA] Do you know how much
I worry about you?

582
00:31:44,445 --> 00:31:46,447
Why do you insist on hangin' out…

583
00:31:46,531 --> 00:31:48,825
[HELICOPTER APPROACHING]

584
00:31:50,743 --> 00:31:52,161
[BARKING]

585
00:32:06,759 --> 00:32:08,803
♫

586
00:32:28,531 --> 00:32:31,242
[RAP MUSIC PLAYING]

587
00:32:46,924 --> 00:32:49,344
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS]

588
00:33:07,278 --> 00:33:08,821
[AKEELAH] Dylan?

589
00:33:09,822 --> 00:33:12,450
Um…

590
00:33:12,533 --> 00:33:13,785
I'm Akeelah.

591
00:33:18,414 --> 00:33:20,875
Javier said I could come
and join the study group today.

592
00:33:20,958 --> 00:33:23,086
All those rejects do that.

593
00:33:23,169 --> 00:33:27,799
My father coaches me privately.
Who's your coach?

594
00:33:27,882 --> 00:33:30,259
I don't got one.

595
00:33:30,343 --> 00:33:33,304
How many spelling bees
have you won?

596
00:33:33,388 --> 00:33:34,764
Just the one at my school.

597
00:33:37,350 --> 00:33:39,560
Spell "xanthosis."

598
00:33:39,644 --> 00:33:43,731
- Um… Z-A-
- It starts with an "X".

599
00:33:43,815 --> 00:33:48,986
If that idiot hadn't been caught cheating,
you wouldn't have made the cut.

600
00:33:52,657 --> 00:33:54,492
Euphoric.

601
00:33:54,575 --> 00:33:57,787
Euphoric is an adjective.
ORIGIN: Greek.

602
00:33:57,870 --> 00:34:00,832
It means, like,
feeling great and everything.

603
00:34:00,915 --> 00:34:03,209
Either spell the word,
or take a shot.

604
00:34:03,292 --> 00:34:05,336
If you miss either one,
you get a strike.

605
00:34:05,420 --> 00:34:06,879
Three strikes, you're out.

606
00:34:08,715 --> 00:34:10,049
"Euphoric."

607
00:34:10,133 --> 00:34:13,553
E-U-P-H-

608
00:34:13,636 --> 00:34:16,848
O-R-I-C.

609
00:34:16,931 --> 00:34:18,683
"Euphoric."

610
00:34:18,766 --> 00:34:20,059
"Psoriasis."

611
00:34:20,143 --> 00:34:21,978
Are you takin' Latin at your school?

612
00:34:22,061 --> 00:34:25,064
Psoriasis is a noun.
ORIGIN: Greek.

613
00:34:25,148 --> 00:34:28,985
Are you kidding? My school barely has
enough money for kick balls.

614
00:34:29,068 --> 00:34:30,319
There's no Latin classes.

615
00:34:30,403 --> 00:34:32,697
Latin really helps you
understand words.

616
00:34:32,780 --> 00:34:34,699
Psoriasis is, like, itchy skin.

617
00:34:34,782 --> 00:34:37,201
Maybe your mom could drive you up here,
so you could take it with us.

618
00:34:37,285 --> 00:34:40,663
I don't know.
This is all startin' to sound real heavy.

619
00:34:40,747 --> 00:34:43,750
It is heavy. Spelling bees
are serious shit.

620
00:34:43,833 --> 00:34:46,878
I think I'll take a shot.

621
00:34:53,926 --> 00:34:56,846
On second thought,
could I spell the word?

622
00:34:56,929 --> 00:34:59,015
At Crenshaw,
they think I'm a freak.

623
00:34:59,098 --> 00:35:02,059
Don't worry. They think
we're freaks here, too.

624
00:35:02,143 --> 00:35:03,978
Hey, there's my mom.
Need a ride?

625
00:35:04,061 --> 00:35:08,316
Oh… Nah. My mom's gonna
pick me up.

626
00:35:08,399 --> 00:35:10,067
- She should be here soon.
- [CAR HONKING]

627
00:35:11,444 --> 00:35:13,613
Hey, I'm having a birthday party
in a few weeks.

628
00:35:13,696 --> 00:35:16,115
You… you wanna come?

629
00:35:16,199 --> 00:35:19,285
Maybe. If I can.

630
00:35:19,368 --> 00:35:20,912
It was cool seeing you
again, Akeelah.

631
00:35:20,995 --> 00:35:22,830
- Bye.
- Bye.

632
00:35:24,373 --> 00:35:26,876
♫

633
00:35:32,089 --> 00:35:33,966
[P.A. INDISTINCT]

634
00:35:55,279 --> 00:35:57,865
Where the hell have you been?

635
00:35:57,949 --> 00:35:59,826
Studyin'.

636
00:35:59,909 --> 00:36:02,954
Studyin' where?

637
00:36:03,037 --> 00:36:04,622
Woodland Hills.

638
00:36:04,705 --> 00:36:07,708
Woodland Hills?
What you doin' there?

639
00:36:07,792 --> 00:36:10,127
They got a spelling club.

640
00:36:10,211 --> 00:36:13,297
Did Mr. Welch take you?
'Cause ain't nobody called me.

641
00:36:17,927 --> 00:36:21,264
I went by myself. I didn't think
the bus ride would take so long.

642
00:36:21,347 --> 00:36:22,598
I'm sorry.

643
00:36:22,682 --> 00:36:26,269
Akeelah Anderson!
You done lost your mind?

644
00:36:26,352 --> 00:36:27,645
You 11 years old!

645
00:36:27,728 --> 00:36:30,523
You don't be takin' a bus
to Woodland Hills by yourself!

646
00:36:30,606 --> 00:36:33,985
- There's nobody around to take me.
- That's 'cause I work.

647
00:36:34,068 --> 00:36:35,862
That's what you said on the weekend.

648
00:36:35,945 --> 00:36:38,865
All the other kids have their parents
at the district bee.

649
00:36:38,948 --> 00:36:42,410
Well, maybe the other kids have parents
who got more time on their hands.

650
00:36:42,493 --> 00:36:46,038
Look, I'm not havin' another child of mine
disappearin' at all hours.

651
00:36:46,122 --> 00:36:49,166
So if this spellin' thing means
sneaking off to the suburbs by yourself,

652
00:36:49,250 --> 00:36:51,502
- I'm callin' it all off.
- We can't call it off!

653
00:36:51,586 --> 00:36:52,837
I'm goin' to the regional bee!

654
00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:55,089
Not if you flunk outta school,
you're not.

655
00:36:55,172 --> 00:36:57,466
I just got a letter sayin'
you gotta take summer school

656
00:36:57,550 --> 00:36:59,969
to make up for all these classes
you done skipped.

657
00:37:00,052 --> 00:37:02,805
Mom, I hate Crenshaw!
It is so boring there!

658
00:37:02,889 --> 00:37:04,348
And nobody cares!

659
00:37:04,432 --> 00:37:07,435
What, you think they care
about you in Woodland Hills?

660
00:37:07,518 --> 00:37:08,811
At least they got Latin classes.

661
00:37:08,895 --> 00:37:11,314
And the kids don't have
to study in their stairwell.

662
00:37:11,397 --> 00:37:12,648
Well, good for them.

663
00:37:12,732 --> 00:37:15,359
But until you finish
summer school, at Crenshaw,

664
00:37:15,443 --> 00:37:16,944
ain't gonna be no more spellin' bees.

665
00:37:17,028 --> 00:37:20,573
But, Mama, I gotta get ready
for the state bee during the summer.

666
00:37:20,656 --> 00:37:23,367
Well, you just gonna have to do
that next year, aren't ya?

667
00:37:23,451 --> 00:37:27,580
- But that's not fair!
- Not only is it fair, it's final.

668
00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,002
♫

669
00:37:39,008 --> 00:37:41,385
You'd let me do it.

670
00:37:43,888 --> 00:37:45,348
[SIGHS]

671
00:38:09,288 --> 00:38:11,499
1979. "Maculature."

672
00:38:11,582 --> 00:38:14,543
M-A-C-U-L-A-T-U-R-E.
Origin is Latin.

673
00:38:14,627 --> 00:38:15,878
1990. "Fibranne."

674
00:38:15,962 --> 00:38:18,297
F-I-B-R-A-N-N-E.
French.

675
00:38:18,381 --> 00:38:20,341
1996. "Vivisepulture."

676
00:38:20,424 --> 00:38:24,428
V-I-V-I-S-E-P-U-L-T-U-R-E.

677
00:38:24,512 --> 00:38:25,763
Latin.

678
00:38:25,846 --> 00:38:29,058
I learned all the winning words
since 1925,

679
00:38:29,141 --> 00:38:31,143
just like you said I should.

680
00:38:32,311 --> 00:38:34,814
Sorry for bein' so insolent last time.

681
00:38:34,897 --> 00:38:38,526
That's not gonna happen
no more… anymore.

682
00:38:38,609 --> 00:38:40,820
I promise.

683
00:38:40,903 --> 00:38:43,489
So I was wonderin'
if you might reconsider

684
00:38:43,572 --> 00:38:45,408
coaching me for the state bee.

685
00:38:48,077 --> 00:38:49,620
'Cause I need a coach.

686
00:38:51,747 --> 00:38:53,040
Bad.

687
00:38:54,250 --> 00:38:57,211
<i>"Badly."</i> You need a coach badly.

688
00:38:58,462 --> 00:38:59,714
Come in.

689
00:39:04,427 --> 00:39:06,387
Come in. Come in.

690
00:39:13,352 --> 00:39:16,480
That's a very pretty lady.
She your wife?

691
00:39:16,564 --> 00:39:19,984
Listen, you got very lucky
at the district bee.

692
00:39:20,067 --> 00:39:22,903
The competition at state level
is much stronger,

693
00:39:22,987 --> 00:39:26,949
so if you and I
were to prepare for that,

694
00:39:27,033 --> 00:39:29,201
we'd have to do it on my schedule.

695
00:39:29,285 --> 00:39:31,454
So we'd have to work
three hours each morning,

696
00:39:31,537 --> 00:39:33,664
starting at 9:00.
Can you handle that?

697
00:39:33,748 --> 00:39:35,374
Well, I do have summer school,

698
00:39:35,458 --> 00:39:39,879
but Mr. Welch say workin' with you
could take the place of it.

699
00:39:39,962 --> 00:39:44,258
Isn't that for students who don't perform
satisfactorily during the year?

700
00:39:44,341 --> 00:39:49,930
Well… sometimes with kids who want
to get ahead for next year.

701
00:39:50,014 --> 00:39:51,390
Yes. Please, put that down.

702
00:39:52,683 --> 00:39:54,018
Just… Yeah.

703
00:39:54,101 --> 00:39:57,605
[SIGHS]

704
00:39:57,688 --> 00:40:01,984
Have you, uh… Have you got any goals?

705
00:40:02,068 --> 00:40:03,319
- Hmm?
- Goals.

706
00:40:03,402 --> 00:40:05,196
What would you like to be
when you grow up?

707
00:40:05,279 --> 00:40:08,240
A doctor. A lawyer.
A stand-up comic.

708
00:40:09,617 --> 00:40:12,745
I don't know. Only thing
I'm good at is spelling.

709
00:40:17,291 --> 00:40:21,796
Go over there and read the quotation
that's on the wall.

710
00:40:25,424 --> 00:40:27,134
Read it aloud, please.

711
00:40:28,803 --> 00:40:33,349
"Our deepest fear is not
that we are inadequate.

712
00:40:33,432 --> 00:40:38,437
Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond measure.

713
00:40:38,521 --> 00:40:42,191
We ask ourselves,
'Who am I to be brilliant,

714
00:40:42,274 --> 00:40:45,778
gorgeous, talented,
and fabulous?'

715
00:40:45,861 --> 00:40:50,533
Actually, who are you not to be?

716
00:40:52,034 --> 00:40:56,288
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.

717
00:40:56,372 --> 00:40:58,666
And as we let our own light shine,

718
00:40:58,749 --> 00:41:04,505
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same."

719
00:41:05,756 --> 00:41:08,008
Does that mean anything to you?

720
00:41:09,135 --> 00:41:10,386
I don't know.

721
00:41:10,469 --> 00:41:15,474
It's written in plain English.
What does it mean?

722
00:41:17,268 --> 00:41:19,186
That I'm not supposed
to be afraid?

723
00:41:19,270 --> 00:41:21,564
Afraid of what?

724
00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:24,692
Afraid of…

725
00:41:27,736 --> 00:41:29,280
Me?

726
00:41:37,580 --> 00:41:40,249
This National Spelling Bee
is a tough nut.

727
00:41:40,332 --> 00:41:42,418
I've seen it chew kids up
and spit them out.

728
00:41:42,501 --> 00:41:45,421
So if you want to get there,
you can't be a shrinking violet.

729
00:41:45,504 --> 00:41:49,008
You have to stand up
and show them what you can do.

730
00:41:49,091 --> 00:41:50,509
All right?

731
00:41:52,469 --> 00:41:53,888
Then I'll brook no nonsense.

732
00:41:53,971 --> 00:41:58,475
You show up on time,
with no attitude, or it's over.

733
00:41:59,476 --> 00:42:00,728
Agreed?

734
00:42:02,938 --> 00:42:04,190
Agreed.

735
00:42:09,904 --> 00:42:11,655
<i>♪ And maybe you should know ♪</i>

736
00:42:11,739 --> 00:42:13,532
<i>♪ That you ain't got no control… ♪</i>

737
00:42:15,367 --> 00:42:16,660
Stop, stop, stop, stop!

738
00:42:16,744 --> 00:42:19,997
Boy, Mom would trip if she knew
we borrowed the car for this.

739
00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:22,625
That's why mama ain't gonna know.

740
00:42:23,876 --> 00:42:25,127
Come on, Georgia.

741
00:42:27,463 --> 00:42:29,340
Um…

742
00:42:31,050 --> 00:42:33,177
I'm gonna go to the mall
with Kiana.

743
00:42:33,260 --> 00:42:35,554
But I thought you wanted
to go to this party.

744
00:42:37,681 --> 00:42:38,933
[JAVIER] Hey, Akeelah.

745
00:42:43,771 --> 00:42:46,398
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.

746
00:42:47,399 --> 00:42:48,734
Come on, let's go.

747
00:42:51,153 --> 00:42:52,821
- How are you? Thank you.
- Okay.

748
00:42:54,114 --> 00:42:57,743
- [CAR STARTS]
- [MUSIC RESUMES ON RADIO]

749
00:42:57,826 --> 00:42:59,453
[PARTY CHATTER]

750
00:43:01,205 --> 00:43:02,498
[AKEELAH] Why'd you invite him?

751
00:43:02,581 --> 00:43:06,043
My Dad's friends with his dad.
I'm surprised he showed up.

752
00:43:06,126 --> 00:43:07,670
Hey, you want to see my house?

753
00:43:07,753 --> 00:43:09,338
- Yeah.
- Let's go.

754
00:43:10,381 --> 00:43:12,508
This is my father's office.

755
00:43:12,591 --> 00:43:16,011
He's a journalist, and he's written,
like, a bunch of books.

756
00:43:18,097 --> 00:43:20,516
What's your father do?

757
00:43:20,599 --> 00:43:23,018
My daddy?

758
00:43:23,102 --> 00:43:25,271
He used to work for the city parks.

759
00:43:27,398 --> 00:43:29,733
Man, you got a lot of friends.

760
00:43:29,817 --> 00:43:32,194
I never had a birthday party this big.

761
00:43:32,278 --> 00:43:34,071
I'd think you'd have lots of friends.

762
00:43:40,327 --> 00:43:41,704
Why'd you do that?

763
00:43:41,787 --> 00:43:44,707
I had an impulse.

764
00:43:44,790 --> 00:43:47,167
Are you gonna sue me
for sexual harassment?

765
00:43:49,420 --> 00:43:51,839
[LAUGHING]

766
00:43:52,840 --> 00:43:53,841
That was nuts.

767
00:43:55,342 --> 00:43:57,052
What are they doin' down there?

768
00:43:57,136 --> 00:43:59,930
Oh, no. Dylan brought
his Scrabble games.

769
00:44:00,014 --> 00:44:01,640
Scrabble?

770
00:44:01,724 --> 00:44:04,727
[DYLAN] I get 30 seconds
for each board.

771
00:44:04,810 --> 00:44:07,604
We need one more.
Who wants to play?

772
00:44:07,688 --> 00:44:08,939
I will.

773
00:44:09,023 --> 00:44:11,525
♫

774
00:44:14,778 --> 00:44:16,030
And right out of the gate,

775
00:44:16,113 --> 00:44:20,075
Roman scores 32 points with "birch"
on the double word score.

776
00:44:20,159 --> 00:44:24,371
Dylan counters with the immediate
use of "Z" for 39 big ones.

777
00:44:24,455 --> 00:44:27,666
Polly tests the water with "acorn".

778
00:44:29,001 --> 00:44:32,504
And Dylan answers with
a body-blow "beacon" for 20.

779
00:44:32,588 --> 00:44:33,797
[SLAPS THE CLOCK]

780
00:44:33,881 --> 00:44:35,716
Holy cannoli!

781
00:44:38,260 --> 00:44:41,555
Right off the bat,
Akeelah uses all her letters,

782
00:44:41,638 --> 00:44:46,727
getting 50 extra points
for a whopping 82.

783
00:44:48,228 --> 00:44:49,646
What will Dylan do?

784
00:44:49,730 --> 00:44:51,357
He's fighting the clock.

785
00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:54,485
You could cut the tension
with a butter knife.

786
00:44:54,568 --> 00:44:56,653
Shut up!

787
00:45:04,787 --> 00:45:09,708
Shazam! Dylan gets his own bingo
for 76 points.

788
00:45:17,591 --> 00:45:18,842
[JAVIER] It's come down to this.

789
00:45:18,926 --> 00:45:23,055
After having crushed all five opponents,
Dylan has only Akeelah to beat.

790
00:45:23,138 --> 00:45:26,642
But she's ahead by 21,
and has only a few letters left.

791
00:45:26,725 --> 00:45:28,852
Is this an upset in the making?

792
00:45:28,936 --> 00:45:30,896
What kind of birthday party is this?

793
00:45:32,231 --> 00:45:33,732
[LAUGHING]

794
00:45:39,196 --> 00:45:40,197
[PUNCHES CLOCK]

795
00:45:40,280 --> 00:45:44,618
Yowza! Using the triple-word score,
Dylan charges ahead by six.

796
00:45:52,084 --> 00:45:53,335
Just go.

797
00:46:01,343 --> 00:46:03,303
[CROWD] Whoa…

798
00:46:03,387 --> 00:46:07,266
Yeah! Akeelah's in the lead by 12 points,
and has only one letter left.

799
00:46:07,349 --> 00:46:09,726
But this could be Dylan's final play.

800
00:46:15,357 --> 00:46:18,360
[SNORTS]
<i>Arrividerci,</i> sweetheart.

801
00:46:22,156 --> 00:46:24,324
12 points decides the game.

802
00:46:24,408 --> 00:46:26,493
But Dylan gets Akeelah's last two points.

803
00:46:26,577 --> 00:46:29,788
He wins.
A heartbreaker.

804
00:46:32,166 --> 00:46:33,417
Wow, Akeelah.

805
00:46:33,500 --> 00:46:35,878
No one ever gets
that close to beating Dylan.

806
00:46:35,961 --> 00:46:37,212
But I didn't beat him.

807
00:46:38,755 --> 00:46:41,842
Girl, you passed up
the mall to play Scrabble?

808
00:46:44,928 --> 00:46:47,473
[DYLAN] She just got lucky.

809
00:46:47,556 --> 00:46:51,560
[MR. CHIU] If you can barely beat
a little black girl at a silly board game,

810
00:46:51,643 --> 00:46:53,729
how do you expect
to win the National Bee?

811
00:46:56,106 --> 00:47:00,736
Listen! We're not coming in second
again this year.

812
00:47:00,819 --> 00:47:03,614
We're gonna win.

813
00:47:04,615 --> 00:47:05,866
Let's go.

814
00:47:09,912 --> 00:47:11,580
[AKEELAH] <i>"He began to have a dim feeling</i>

815
00:47:11,663 --> 00:47:13,999
that to attain
his place in the world,

816
00:47:14,082 --> 00:47:16,877
he must be himself
and not another."

817
00:47:16,960 --> 00:47:19,880
[SIGHS] Dr. Larabee,
this book is too heavy.

818
00:47:19,963 --> 00:47:22,382
Good. It'll develop your arm muscles.

819
00:47:22,466 --> 00:47:24,551
I thought we were developing
my vocabulary.

820
00:47:24,635 --> 00:47:26,386
We are.
Please continue reading.

821
00:47:26,470 --> 00:47:28,722
But I already know most of the words
in this speech.

822
00:47:28,805 --> 00:47:33,018
It's not a speech, it's an essay
by W.E.B. Dubois,

823
00:47:33,101 --> 00:47:36,104
the first black man to receive
a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

824
00:47:36,188 --> 00:47:38,315
Maybe we should be studying
more big words.

825
00:47:38,398 --> 00:47:40,150
Spell "cabalistic."

826
00:47:40,234 --> 00:47:44,780
C-A-B-A-L-I-S-T-I-C.
"Cabalistic."

827
00:47:44,863 --> 00:47:46,573
And when did you learn that one?

828
00:47:46,657 --> 00:47:48,784
About two minutes ago on this book.

829
00:47:48,867 --> 00:47:51,787
But in the time it took
to learn that one word,

830
00:47:51,870 --> 00:47:53,497
Dylan probably learned 20.

831
00:47:53,580 --> 00:47:56,416
And those 20 words won't mean
anything to him.

832
00:47:56,500 --> 00:48:00,379
He's just a little robot,
memorizing lists of words.

833
00:48:00,462 --> 00:48:03,632
The people we're studying…
Dubois, Dr. King, JFK…

834
00:48:03,715 --> 00:48:07,427
these people used words
to change the world.

835
00:48:07,511 --> 00:48:13,141
And they didn't acquire their vocabulary
by rote memorization.

836
00:48:13,225 --> 00:48:15,435
Okay.

837
00:48:15,519 --> 00:48:16,812
But when I'm at the bee,

838
00:48:16,895 --> 00:48:20,649
and they tell me to spell
some little fish from Australia

839
00:48:20,732 --> 00:48:22,568
or some weird bacteria
on the Moon,

840
00:48:22,651 --> 00:48:26,071
we're gonna wish we'd done
a little bit more rote memorizing

841
00:48:26,154 --> 00:48:28,031
and not so much essay reading…

842
00:48:29,616 --> 00:48:31,577
if you don't mind me saying.

843
00:48:34,329 --> 00:48:36,623
Bacteria don't exist on the Moon.

844
00:48:36,707 --> 00:48:39,126
Let me ask you something.

845
00:48:39,209 --> 00:48:41,545
Where do you think
big words come from?

846
00:48:41,628 --> 00:48:43,755
People with big brains?

847
00:48:43,839 --> 00:48:44,881
[CHUCKLES]

848
00:48:46,508 --> 00:48:47,759
All right.

849
00:48:49,094 --> 00:48:50,137
What do you see?

850
00:48:50,220 --> 00:48:52,097
A bunch of big words I don't know.

851
00:48:52,180 --> 00:48:53,890
Ah. Look again.

852
00:48:56,268 --> 00:48:58,228
What kind of power
do we get from the sun?

853
00:48:58,312 --> 00:49:01,607
- Solar.
- So, what does "sol" mean?

854
00:49:01,690 --> 00:49:04,860
- Sun.
- What does "terraneous" sound like?

855
00:49:04,943 --> 00:49:06,903
- Terrain.
- Meaning the earth.

856
00:49:06,987 --> 00:49:08,405
"Soliterraneous" means…

857
00:49:08,488 --> 00:49:12,284
The sun and the earth
working together.

858
00:49:12,367 --> 00:49:14,286
So where do big words come from?

859
00:49:14,369 --> 00:49:15,621
Little words.

860
00:49:15,704 --> 00:49:17,414
And how many little words
do you know?

861
00:49:17,497 --> 00:49:19,124
- Tons.
- Yes!

862
00:49:19,207 --> 00:49:21,460
And there are tons more
for you to learn.

863
00:49:21,543 --> 00:49:23,712
There are Greek ones.

864
00:49:23,795 --> 00:49:26,173
There are Latin ones.

865
00:49:26,256 --> 00:49:27,883
French ones.

866
00:49:27,966 --> 00:49:30,927
And if you learn them all,

867
00:49:31,011 --> 00:49:34,014
you can spell any word,
no matter how big.

868
00:49:37,351 --> 00:49:39,895
Maybe we should
get back to the essay reading.

869
00:49:39,978 --> 00:49:41,355
What's the matter?

870
00:49:41,438 --> 00:49:44,691
I thought you wanted to win
the National Spelling Bee.

871
00:49:46,485 --> 00:49:48,403
Maybe just getting there
this time is good enough.

872
00:49:48,487 --> 00:49:51,323
Don't give me that.

873
00:49:51,406 --> 00:49:55,994
You want to win it so badly,
it keeps you up at night.

874
00:49:56,078 --> 00:49:58,163
Ever since you found out
there was such a thing

875
00:49:58,246 --> 00:49:59,706
as the National Spelling Bee,

876
00:49:59,790 --> 00:50:02,000
you've seen yourself
holding up that trophy.

877
00:50:02,084 --> 00:50:05,337
But if you can't say it,
you can't win it, so say it.

878
00:50:05,420 --> 00:50:07,381
- I wanna win.
- Say it louder, please.

879
00:50:07,464 --> 00:50:09,424
- I wanna win.
- You wanna win what?

880
00:50:09,508 --> 00:50:12,219
I wanna win the National Spelling Bee!

881
00:50:12,302 --> 00:50:15,722
Good. Good.

882
00:50:15,806 --> 00:50:18,350
You'll win using my methods,

883
00:50:18,433 --> 00:50:21,395
by first understanding
the power of language,

884
00:50:21,478 --> 00:50:23,355
then by deconstructing it,

885
00:50:23,438 --> 00:50:26,650
breaking it down
to its origins, to its roots.

886
00:50:26,733 --> 00:50:30,112
You'll consume it.
You will own it.

887
00:50:30,195 --> 00:50:31,738
And then you know
what you'll be?

888
00:50:31,822 --> 00:50:33,990
Mm-hmm. Tired.

889
00:50:34,074 --> 00:50:36,243
You'll be a champion.

890
00:50:38,286 --> 00:50:40,288
- Are you ready?
- I'm ready.

891
00:50:40,372 --> 00:50:42,165
All right. Let's go.

892
00:50:42,249 --> 00:50:44,334
<i>♪ Hand me down my walking cane ♪</i>

893
00:50:44,418 --> 00:50:46,878
<i>♪ Hand me down my hat ♪</i>

894
00:50:46,962 --> 00:50:49,005
<i>♪ Hurry now, and don't be late ♪</i>

895
00:50:49,089 --> 00:50:52,008
<i>♪ 'Cause we ain't got time to chat ♪</i>

896
00:50:52,092 --> 00:50:54,428
<i>♪ You and me, we're going out ♪</i>

897
00:50:54,511 --> 00:50:56,972
<i>♪ To catch the latest sounds ♪</i>

898
00:50:57,055 --> 00:50:59,015
<i>♪ Guaranteed to blow your mind ♪</i>

899
00:50:59,099 --> 00:51:01,184
<i>♪ So high you won't come down ♪</i>

900
00:51:01,268 --> 00:51:02,269
Yes!

901
00:51:02,352 --> 00:51:03,895
<i>♪ Hey, y'all, prepare yourself ♪</i>

902
00:51:03,979 --> 00:51:06,690
<i>♪ For the rubberband man ♪</i>

903
00:51:06,773 --> 00:51:12,028
<i>♪ You've never heard a sound ♪
♪ like the rubberband man ♪</i>

904
00:51:12,112 --> 00:51:13,697
<i>♪ You're bound to lose control ♪</i>

905
00:51:13,780 --> 00:51:16,950
<i>♪ When the rubberband starts to jam ♪</i>

906
00:51:18,744 --> 00:51:21,747
<i>♪ Oh, Lord, this dude is outta sight ♪</i>

907
00:51:21,830 --> 00:51:26,543
<i>♪ Everything he does ♪
♪ seems to come out right ♪</i>

908
00:51:26,626 --> 00:51:28,754
<i>♪ Once I went to hear them play ♪</i>

909
00:51:28,837 --> 00:51:30,964
<i>♪ At a club outside of town ♪</i>

910
00:51:31,047 --> 00:51:33,800
<i>♪ I was so surprised, ♪
♪ I was hypnotized… ♪</i>

911
00:51:33,884 --> 00:51:36,386
[SPEAKING FOREIGN
PHRASES AND ROOT WORDS]

912
00:51:39,514 --> 00:51:40,974
[COUGHS]

913
00:51:42,976 --> 00:51:45,270
Um… why are you home so early?

914
00:51:45,353 --> 00:51:47,606
I just wasn't feeling well.

915
00:51:49,816 --> 00:51:51,067
What you got there?

916
00:51:51,151 --> 00:51:53,153
Homework.

917
00:51:56,782 --> 00:51:59,743
You know, the regional bee's
coming up soon,

918
00:51:59,826 --> 00:52:01,119
and I was wondering if you might…

919
00:52:01,203 --> 00:52:03,246
Is that gonna happen
in Beverly Hills, too?

920
00:52:03,330 --> 00:52:04,956
I don't know.

921
00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:07,292
I told you, you pass summer school,

922
00:52:07,375 --> 00:52:09,169
then you can start worrying
about spelling bee.

923
00:52:09,252 --> 00:52:12,130
- But if you would just…
- Akeelah.

924
00:52:12,214 --> 00:52:14,758
Baby, I'm just
not in the mood, all right?

925
00:52:27,103 --> 00:52:29,981
So how come
you don't teach anymore?

926
00:52:30,065 --> 00:52:34,861
I told you, I do teach.
I administer classes online.

927
00:52:35,946 --> 00:52:37,614
Let's keep going.

928
00:52:37,697 --> 00:52:39,491
"Effervescent."

929
00:52:39,574 --> 00:52:41,868
E-F-F…

930
00:52:41,952 --> 00:52:44,246
E-R-V-E…

931
00:52:44,329 --> 00:52:47,415
[DOG BARKING]

932
00:52:47,499 --> 00:52:49,668
S-E-N-T.
"Effervescent."

933
00:52:49,751 --> 00:52:51,378
Come on, come on.
You know this word.

934
00:52:51,461 --> 00:52:53,004
That dog's distracting me!

935
00:52:53,088 --> 00:52:55,006
You're gonna have
much bigger distractions

936
00:52:55,090 --> 00:52:57,050
when you get to the National Bee in D.C.

937
00:52:57,133 --> 00:52:59,636
Now, what is that you're doing
with your hand, huh?

938
00:52:59,719 --> 00:53:01,513
What?

939
00:53:01,596 --> 00:53:03,974
With your hand, your hand.

940
00:53:04,057 --> 00:53:06,101
You… you… you tap, like that.

941
00:53:06,184 --> 00:53:07,978
- What is that?
- I don't know.

942
00:53:16,611 --> 00:53:18,363
[COUGHS]

943
00:53:18,446 --> 00:53:21,533
So, why do you got all these toys for?

944
00:53:21,616 --> 00:53:24,160
They belonged to my niece.

945
00:53:24,244 --> 00:53:26,663
Oh. So you got any kids
of your own?

946
00:53:26,746 --> 00:53:29,499
You ask a lot of questions,
don't you?

947
00:53:29,583 --> 00:53:30,876
I'm naturally inquisitive.

948
00:53:30,959 --> 00:53:35,797
Yes, which is also sometimes confused
with being naturally obnoxious.

949
00:53:35,881 --> 00:53:38,758
Here. Let me see you jump rope.

950
00:53:38,842 --> 00:53:40,176
Just jump?

951
00:53:40,260 --> 00:53:41,678
Yes, just jump.

952
00:53:50,478 --> 00:53:51,897
Is there a point to this?

953
00:53:51,980 --> 00:53:54,524
♫

954
00:53:56,943 --> 00:53:58,612
Yes, there is. Keep going.

955
00:54:04,326 --> 00:54:07,078
I said keep going.

956
00:54:07,162 --> 00:54:09,623
Concentrate, stay focused.
Spell "effervescent."

957
00:54:09,706 --> 00:54:11,541
Don't think about
anything else. Come on.

958
00:54:11,625 --> 00:54:13,293
Go.

959
00:54:13,376 --> 00:54:17,297
E-F-F-E-R-

960
00:54:17,380 --> 00:54:21,718
- Good!
- V-E-S-C-E-N-T.

961
00:54:21,801 --> 00:54:23,386
"Effervescent."

962
00:54:23,470 --> 00:54:27,098
You see that? That's your trick,
that's your mnemonic device.

963
00:54:27,182 --> 00:54:28,433
Jumping rope?

964
00:54:28,516 --> 00:54:29,768
Keeping time, keeping time.

965
00:54:29,851 --> 00:54:32,687
You see, kids at the bee,
they do all kinds of things.

966
00:54:32,771 --> 00:54:34,856
They sway back and forth,

967
00:54:34,940 --> 00:54:37,442
they turn around in circles,

968
00:54:37,525 --> 00:54:40,362
anything they have to do
to stay focused.

969
00:54:40,445 --> 00:54:41,988
You keep time.

970
00:54:42,072 --> 00:54:46,409
And I bet you if you learned
the words while you kept time,

971
00:54:46,493 --> 00:54:49,454
you would remember them
even better.

972
00:54:49,537 --> 00:54:50,830
<i>♪ Hallelujah ♪</i>

973
00:54:50,914 --> 00:54:52,666
[SPELLING WORDS]

974
00:54:52,749 --> 00:54:54,000
<i>♪ Come on ♪</i>

975
00:54:54,084 --> 00:54:55,585
♫

976
00:55:02,926 --> 00:55:06,304
B-O-G-N-I-A…

977
00:55:07,931 --> 00:55:08,932
Correct. It's a game.

978
00:55:09,015 --> 00:55:11,559
[SPELLING WORDS, INDISTINCT]

979
00:55:24,906 --> 00:55:26,700
It's too bad your mother
had to work today, Akeelah.

980
00:55:26,783 --> 00:55:28,743
But did she get to see the new dress?

981
00:55:28,827 --> 00:55:30,954
Uh, yeah, she thought it was cool.
Oh, there goes Javier.

982
00:55:32,330 --> 00:55:34,916
[FEMALE JUDGE] <i>This is
a very exciting day for us here</i>

983
00:55:35,000 --> 00:55:38,920
because our top three spellers
will be representing Southern California

984
00:55:39,004 --> 00:55:44,384
at the National Spelling Bee
in Washington D.C. Yes!

985
00:55:46,636 --> 00:55:49,139
So what do you say?
Let's spell!

986
00:55:49,222 --> 00:55:52,559
Well, Josh?
You think she's got a shot at it?

987
00:55:52,642 --> 00:55:55,020
We'll see.

988
00:55:55,103 --> 00:55:56,479
[MALE JUDGE] "Alfresco."

989
00:55:56,563 --> 00:56:00,150
A-L-F-R-E-S-C-O.
"Alfresco."

990
00:56:00,233 --> 00:56:01,484
[FEMALE JUDGE]
That's correct.

991
00:56:01,568 --> 00:56:02,652
[APPLAUSE]

992
00:56:03,987 --> 00:56:06,197
- "Loquacious."
- [BELL RINGS]

993
00:56:06,281 --> 00:56:07,782
- "Espadrille."
- [BELL RINGS]

994
00:56:07,866 --> 00:56:08,950
"Jambalaya."

995
00:56:09,034 --> 00:56:11,828
- [BELL RINGS]
- [SIGHS]

996
00:56:11,911 --> 00:56:13,747
[GIRL] Would you repeat
the word, please?

997
00:56:13,830 --> 00:56:15,707
"Malloseismic."

998
00:56:17,292 --> 00:56:22,297
M-A-L-O…

999
00:56:23,298 --> 00:56:25,550
S-E…

1000
00:56:25,633 --> 00:56:27,761
I-S-M-I-C.

1001
00:56:27,844 --> 00:56:29,721
[BELL RINGS]

1002
00:56:29,804 --> 00:56:32,057
"Malloseismic" is

1003
00:56:32,140 --> 00:56:37,812
M-A-L-L-O-S-E-I-S-M-I-C.

1004
00:56:39,147 --> 00:56:41,149
[CRYING]
It's okay.

1005
00:56:43,902 --> 00:56:48,323
[BOY] D-O-U-B-L-U-R-E.

1006
00:56:48,406 --> 00:56:50,450
- That's correct.
- [APPLAUSE]

1007
00:56:55,622 --> 00:56:59,876
- "Psalmody."
- Definition, please?

1008
00:56:59,959 --> 00:57:03,546
- Psalmody means…
- Mrs. Anderson!

1009
00:57:03,630 --> 00:57:04,923
"…of singing in psalms."

1010
00:57:05,006 --> 00:57:07,592
I want my daughter
off this stage right now.

1011
00:57:08,760 --> 00:57:10,720
P-S-A…

1012
00:57:10,804 --> 00:57:13,932
[TANYA] I don't care what she is.
I want her off that stage.

1013
00:57:14,015 --> 00:57:16,101
I didn't know she was here,
and I didn't give permission…

1014
00:57:16,184 --> 00:57:18,937
- L-M-O…
- Mrs. Anderson…

1015
00:57:19,020 --> 00:57:22,232
No. I told here she was not to be here.

1016
00:57:22,315 --> 00:57:24,943
And you don't take my child
anywhere without my permission!

1017
00:57:25,026 --> 00:57:29,531
Um… D-Y.
"Psalmody."

1018
00:57:29,614 --> 00:57:31,699
- That's correct.
- [APPLAUSE]

1019
00:57:32,992 --> 00:57:35,120
[FEMALE JUDGE]
Next, please.

1020
00:57:35,203 --> 00:57:36,454
Excuse me, I'm sorry.

1021
00:57:36,538 --> 00:57:41,376
The mother of one of the spellers needs
to speak with her. It's rather urgent.

1022
00:57:41,459 --> 00:57:43,086
Uh… Okay.

1023
00:57:43,169 --> 00:57:46,089
But she must be back on the stage
before her next turn

1024
00:57:46,172 --> 00:57:47,966
or she'll be disqualified.

1025
00:57:48,049 --> 00:57:49,759
She'll be back.

1026
00:58:05,483 --> 00:58:08,486
I swear we thought you were on board
with this, Mrs. Anderson.

1027
00:58:08,570 --> 00:58:10,822
You want to tell me what the heck
is going on here?

1028
00:58:10,905 --> 00:58:13,158
Because I never signed
a consent form.

1029
00:58:14,617 --> 00:58:17,328
- I signed Daddy's name.
- You did what?!

1030
00:58:20,748 --> 00:58:24,252
How do you think I felt
when Javier's mother calls me

1031
00:58:24,335 --> 00:58:26,546
to see if <i>I</i> need a ride to USC?!

1032
00:58:26,629 --> 00:58:28,798
I don't know who she is
or what she's talking about.

1033
00:58:28,882 --> 00:58:31,968
I'm sorry, Mama.
I just wanted to do the bee.

1034
00:58:32,051 --> 00:58:33,303
By lying?

1035
00:58:33,386 --> 00:58:35,680
By going behind my back
for the last six months?

1036
00:58:35,763 --> 00:58:38,391
You might as well say good-bye
to your little friends, Akeelah,

1037
00:58:38,474 --> 00:58:40,059
because this is
your last spelling bee.

1038
00:58:40,143 --> 00:58:42,937
I beg you, Mrs. Anderson,
to reconsider this.

1039
00:58:43,021 --> 00:58:45,732
- She deserves this…
- Bob.

1040
00:58:45,815 --> 00:58:47,358
Mrs. Anderson's right.

1041
00:58:47,442 --> 00:58:50,528
Akeelah does not deserve to go
to the bee this year.

1042
00:58:50,612 --> 00:58:51,863
- What?
- [BELL RINGS]

1043
00:58:52,947 --> 00:58:55,158
Next speller, please.

1044
00:58:56,868 --> 00:58:59,120
Come on up to the mic, please.

1045
00:59:03,917 --> 00:59:07,170
A little faster. Come on.

1046
00:59:10,673 --> 00:59:12,008
I apologize, Mrs. Anderson,

1047
00:59:12,091 --> 00:59:16,054
if we've contributed to any anguish
you may be feeling.

1048
00:59:16,137 --> 00:59:17,472
And who are you, exactly?

1049
00:59:17,555 --> 00:59:21,476
My name is Joshua Larabee, ma'am,
and I've been…

1050
00:59:21,559 --> 00:59:24,562
Well, I've been helping Akeelah
prepare herself for the spelling bee.

1051
00:59:24,646 --> 00:59:29,025
Akeelah's been getting extra school credit
for working with Dr. Larabee.

1052
00:59:29,108 --> 00:59:33,279
We designed an entire program
specifically for her.

1053
00:59:33,363 --> 00:59:35,240
Why didn't you tell me about this?

1054
00:59:35,323 --> 00:59:37,367
Mama, I hated going behind your back.

1055
00:59:37,450 --> 00:59:42,830
But every time I brought up the bee,
you didn't want to hear it.

1056
00:59:42,914 --> 00:59:45,124
I didn't know what to do.

1057
00:59:46,584 --> 00:59:48,544
Can I get the pronunciation again?

1058
00:59:48,628 --> 00:59:53,633
He's given it to you five times.
You need to spell the word.

1059
00:59:53,716 --> 00:59:55,635
Could you use it in a sentence?

1060
00:59:55,718 --> 00:59:58,346
He's already used it in a sentence.

1061
00:59:58,429 --> 01:00:01,224
I mean, a different sentence
than he used before?

1062
01:00:01,307 --> 01:00:03,518
You only get one sentence.

1063
01:00:03,601 --> 01:00:05,186
[WHISPERING]
What's up with this kid?

1064
01:00:09,357 --> 01:00:10,984
Well, you must
want this thing pretty bad,

1065
01:00:11,067 --> 01:00:14,237
because you ain't never
lied to me before in your life.

1066
01:00:14,320 --> 01:00:15,571
So maybe you can tell me

1067
01:00:15,655 --> 01:00:18,157
what you think a good punishment
would be for what you did.

1068
01:00:22,996 --> 01:00:24,998
I guess I gotta miss the bee.

1069
01:00:25,081 --> 01:00:26,541
But that don't just punish you.

1070
01:00:26,624 --> 01:00:29,836
Mr. Welch and Dr. Larabee done put
a lot of time into this, too.

1071
01:00:29,919 --> 01:00:31,587
So you think of something else.

1072
01:00:37,093 --> 01:00:38,594
Maybe double chores for the month.

1073
01:00:38,678 --> 01:00:41,431
For the next three months.

1074
01:00:43,099 --> 01:00:45,727
She still got time
to get back up on that stage?

1075
01:00:47,228 --> 01:00:50,315
Uh, if we move very quickly, yes.

1076
01:00:50,398 --> 01:00:53,276
Well, I guess you better
get a move on, hmm?

1077
01:00:56,404 --> 01:00:59,032
We haven't much time.

1078
01:00:59,115 --> 01:01:00,616
Come on, come on.

1079
01:01:03,911 --> 01:01:05,288
Thank you, Mama.

1080
01:01:06,873 --> 01:01:08,333
All right.

1081
01:01:11,627 --> 01:01:14,922
- Dr. Larabee, is it?
- Yes.

1082
01:01:15,006 --> 01:01:19,552
So you actually think Akeelah has a chance
to win the National Spelling Bee?

1083
01:01:21,012 --> 01:01:24,432
Yes. Yes, I think she does.

1084
01:01:26,684 --> 01:01:30,063
Well… could you use it
in a song?

1085
01:01:30,146 --> 01:01:31,856
- [AUDIENCE LAUGHS]
- What?

1086
01:01:34,609 --> 01:01:35,985
Never mind. "Ratatouille."

1087
01:01:36,069 --> 01:01:39,614
R-A-T-A-T-O-U-I-L-L-E.
"Ratatouille."

1088
01:01:39,697 --> 01:01:41,699
Uh… That's correct.

1089
01:01:41,783 --> 01:01:43,159
Where's number 73, please?

1090
01:01:43,242 --> 01:01:46,162
She's here! She's here!

1091
01:01:51,084 --> 01:01:53,419
- Thank you.
- I was about to start tap dancing.

1092
01:01:55,380 --> 01:01:58,508
[MALE JUDGE] Okay.
"Pluviosity."

1093
01:01:58,591 --> 01:02:00,551
Can I get a definition, please?

1094
01:02:00,635 --> 01:02:05,223
Pluviosity means "a state
characterized by much rain."

1095
01:02:05,306 --> 01:02:06,974
Okay.

1096
01:02:07,058 --> 01:02:09,602
♫

1097
01:02:13,272 --> 01:02:15,108
"Pluviosity."

1098
01:02:15,191 --> 01:02:20,488
P-L-U-V-I-O-S-I-T-Y.

1099
01:02:20,571 --> 01:02:22,657
- "Pluviosity."
- That's correct.

1100
01:02:22,740 --> 01:02:24,575
[APPLAUSE]

1101
01:02:31,624 --> 01:02:32,959
<i>♪ R-e-s-p-e-c-t ♪</i>

1102
01:02:33,042 --> 01:02:35,545
<i>♪ Find out what it means to me ♪</i>

1103
01:02:35,628 --> 01:02:37,588
<i>♪ R-e-s-p-e-c-t ♪</i>

1104
01:02:37,672 --> 01:02:41,467
<i>♪ Take care of T-C-B, hey! ♪</i>

1105
01:02:41,551 --> 01:02:45,054
I'd like to thank you all
for coming out today

1106
01:02:45,138 --> 01:02:49,350
to honor our own
Akeelah Anderson!

1107
01:02:49,434 --> 01:02:50,768
[CHEERING]

1108
01:02:56,774 --> 01:02:59,569
Um… thanks…

1109
01:03:01,696 --> 01:03:02,989
A lot.

1110
01:03:03,072 --> 01:03:04,490
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

1111
01:03:06,868 --> 01:03:08,411
[GIRL] Akeelah, can I get your autograph?

1112
01:03:08,494 --> 01:03:10,580
Oh, girl!
You're like a movie star now!

1113
01:03:10,663 --> 01:03:12,707
I know. It's pretty crazy.

1114
01:03:12,790 --> 01:03:15,418
Hey, my mama says she wants to take us
out to celebrate tonight.

1115
01:03:17,128 --> 01:03:20,006
Javier's parents are taking me out.
But you know, maybe we can…

1116
01:03:20,089 --> 01:03:21,340
Akeelah?
Excuse me. I'm sorry.

1117
01:03:21,424 --> 01:03:23,843
There's a reporter here,
and she wants to talk to you.

1118
01:03:23,926 --> 01:03:26,554
- I don't want to talk to no reporter.
- Are you kidding?

1119
01:03:26,637 --> 01:03:30,433
This is exactly the kind of good publicity
Crenshaw needs.

1120
01:03:30,516 --> 01:03:32,185
Excuse us. Sorry.

1121
01:03:33,686 --> 01:03:36,522
<i>Hi. This is Lauren Sanchez
reporting from South Los Angeles.</i>

1122
01:03:36,606 --> 01:03:39,400
I'm here with 11-year-old
Akeelah Anderson.

1123
01:03:39,484 --> 01:03:41,444
<i>She's a seventh grader
from Crenshaw Middle School</i>

1124
01:03:41,527 --> 01:03:43,488
<i>who's heading to
the National Spelling Bee.</i>

1125
01:03:43,571 --> 01:03:46,032
<i>How does it feel now that you're going
to be going to Washington D.C.?</i>

1126
01:03:46,115 --> 01:03:48,576
- [AKEELAH] <i>It's pretty cool.
- You excited?</i>

1127
01:03:48,659 --> 01:03:50,286
<i>All right, well, let's check out the word
that Akeelah spelled here</i>

1128
01:03:50,369 --> 01:03:53,748
<i>at the Southern California finals
that got her to the National Bee.</i>

1129
01:03:53,831 --> 01:03:58,753
- [AKEELAH] <i>"Erythrocite." E-R-Y…</i>
- [TURNS OFF TV]

1130
01:03:58,836 --> 01:04:01,339
♫

1131
01:04:08,638 --> 01:04:10,097
Spell "Affenpinscher."

1132
01:04:10,181 --> 01:04:11,641
Affen what?

1133
01:04:11,724 --> 01:04:13,184
"Grallatorial."

1134
01:04:13,267 --> 01:04:16,312
G-R-A-L-A…

1135
01:04:16,395 --> 01:04:18,272
Wrong. "Jacquard."

1136
01:04:18,356 --> 01:04:21,275
- Dr. Larabee…
- Spell the word. "Jacquard."

1137
01:04:23,069 --> 01:04:26,489
- J-A-Q-U…
- What about the "C"?

1138
01:04:26,572 --> 01:04:30,660
These are all words that were missed
in last year's National Spelling Bee,

1139
01:04:30,743 --> 01:04:32,161
and you can't spell one of them.

1140
01:04:32,245 --> 01:04:34,121
Maybe because we haven't
studied them yet.

1141
01:04:34,205 --> 01:04:36,457
Why did you cancel yesterday, hmm?

1142
01:04:36,541 --> 01:04:37,792
Were you doing another interview,

1143
01:04:37,875 --> 01:04:39,961
flaunting yourself in front
of the television cameras?

1144
01:04:40,044 --> 01:04:41,629
No, I was at the mall.

1145
01:04:42,838 --> 01:04:46,259
Look, I wasn't dissing you.
I was Christmas shopping.

1146
01:04:46,342 --> 01:04:48,386
"Dissing"? I thought
we didn't use words like that.

1147
01:04:48,469 --> 01:04:52,098
I thought we only used words
from the dictionary in here.

1148
01:05:00,940 --> 01:05:02,608
"Dis, dissed, dissing.

1149
01:05:02,692 --> 01:05:05,820
To treat with disrespect or contempt,
to find fault with."

1150
01:05:05,903 --> 01:05:09,240
New words get added
to the dictionary every year.

1151
01:05:16,163 --> 01:05:21,335
Look, I didn't get to the National Bee
until I was 14 years old.

1152
01:05:21,419 --> 01:05:25,214
I had no help, I had no training,
I had nothing.

1153
01:05:25,298 --> 01:05:29,135
By the time I got
to the third round, I was out.

1154
01:05:29,218 --> 01:05:33,848
You have an opportunity
to win this thing.

1155
01:05:36,183 --> 01:05:41,230
But all we've done
for eight months is study words.

1156
01:05:41,314 --> 01:05:43,024
Why can't we take a break?

1157
01:05:43,107 --> 01:05:46,861
Go to a movie, to a basketball game?
Why can't we have fun?

1158
01:05:46,944 --> 01:05:49,572
I told you, Denise,
you can have fun after the bee.

1159
01:05:52,366 --> 01:05:54,201
Who… who's Denise?

1160
01:05:54,285 --> 01:05:56,495
What?

1161
01:05:56,579 --> 01:05:58,414
Denise. You called me Denise.
Who's that?

1162
01:05:59,457 --> 01:06:01,375
♫

1163
01:06:02,710 --> 01:06:04,462
Dr. Larabee, are you okay?

1164
01:06:07,048 --> 01:06:08,591
Yes.

1165
01:06:10,509 --> 01:06:11,969
Yes, I'm fine.

1166
01:06:15,348 --> 01:06:20,853
Listen, I spent all last week
making these for you.

1167
01:06:20,936 --> 01:06:22,480
- What are they?
- They're flash cards.

1168
01:06:22,563 --> 01:06:26,525
5,000 new words, the types
that you will run into at the finals.

1169
01:06:26,609 --> 01:06:29,654
5,000? But we've only got
a few months left.

1170
01:06:29,737 --> 01:06:31,447
What, you gonna coach me 24/7?

1171
01:06:31,530 --> 01:06:35,409
Uh, no. You're going to…
um, learn these on your own.

1172
01:06:36,452 --> 01:06:38,913
There's nothing left
for me to teach you.

1173
01:06:41,832 --> 01:06:43,084
What?

1174
01:06:45,378 --> 01:06:46,629
You've got it all, Akeelah.

1175
01:06:46,712 --> 01:06:51,592
You've got word construction down,
etymology, memorization techniques.

1176
01:06:51,676 --> 01:06:57,014
What you need to do now
is just focus on the words.

1177
01:06:57,098 --> 01:07:00,976
[VOICE BREAKING] I can't learn
5,000 new words all by myself.

1178
01:07:01,060 --> 01:07:03,521
Yes, you can. You've got a brain
like a sponge.

1179
01:07:03,604 --> 01:07:05,648
You just sit down
and you study them.

1180
01:07:05,731 --> 01:07:07,692
Dr. Larabee, I swear, I promise.

1181
01:07:07,775 --> 01:07:11,529
I won't miss any more sessions,
and I'll do whatever you say.

1182
01:07:11,612 --> 01:07:13,656
You can't stop coaching me now.

1183
01:07:13,739 --> 01:07:17,535
I told Mr. Welch I'd get you
through the regionals and I've done that.

1184
01:07:17,618 --> 01:07:19,912
Now, I don't have anything else
I can teach you.

1185
01:07:19,995 --> 01:07:24,458
You need to just take those words
and study them and you'll be all right.

1186
01:07:36,178 --> 01:07:38,681
This is why I was at the mall.

1187
01:07:42,059 --> 01:07:44,019
Merry Christmas.

1188
01:07:53,988 --> 01:07:55,281
[DOOR CLOSES]

1189
01:07:57,241 --> 01:07:58,868
♫

1190
01:08:01,954 --> 01:08:04,123
- [LINE RINGING]
- [GEORGIA] <i>Hello?</i>

1191
01:08:04,206 --> 01:08:07,793
Hey, girl. What you doing?

1192
01:08:07,877 --> 01:08:10,045
<i>Watching TV.</i>

1193
01:08:10,129 --> 01:08:12,548
You wanna go skating
this weekend?

1194
01:08:12,631 --> 01:08:16,302
<i>Why don't you go with your friends
from Woodland Hills?</i>

1195
01:08:16,385 --> 01:08:19,388
[LAUGHING] What?
Girl, what's wrong with you?

1196
01:08:19,472 --> 01:08:21,599
<i>Nothing.</i>

1197
01:08:21,682 --> 01:08:24,143
<i>I got homework to do.
I'll see you later.</i>

1198
01:08:24,226 --> 01:08:25,478
[CALL DISCONNECTS]

1199
01:08:30,065 --> 01:08:32,651
[KIANA] Keelie!

1200
01:08:32,735 --> 01:08:36,739
Keelie! Come on out here!
Girl, you on TV.

1201
01:08:36,822 --> 01:08:38,908
Hurry! Hurry!
Come on, look!

1202
01:08:38,991 --> 01:08:40,868
<i>…has captivated her community.</i>

1203
01:08:40,951 --> 01:08:43,078
<i>All of Los Angeles is talking about her.</i>

1204
01:08:43,162 --> 01:08:44,622
<i>Well, if she wins the spelling bee,</i>

1205
01:08:44,705 --> 01:08:47,124
<i>it's gonna be like everybody
in the neighborhood wins.</i>

1206
01:08:47,208 --> 01:08:52,254
<i>I think it'd be real positive.
You know, good for the community.</i>

1207
01:08:52,338 --> 01:08:54,423
<i>I might study for next year's bee.</i>

1208
01:08:54,507 --> 01:08:56,550
[BOTH LAUGH]

1209
01:08:58,803 --> 01:09:00,137
I wonder what's the matter with…

1210
01:09:00,221 --> 01:09:02,848
Akeelah, what's wrong?

1211
01:09:02,932 --> 01:09:04,391
I don't want to do the bee no more.

1212
01:09:04,475 --> 01:09:07,269
You don't wanna do the bee?
Why not?

1213
01:09:07,353 --> 01:09:10,314
Dr. Larabee don't want
to coach me no more.

1214
01:09:10,397 --> 01:09:12,274
Georgia don't want to hang out with me.

1215
01:09:12,358 --> 01:09:15,986
And all these people
are expecting me to win.

1216
01:09:16,070 --> 01:09:20,449
And it's just too hard, mama.
I want it all to stop.

1217
01:09:20,533 --> 01:09:22,243
- Baby, you were so…
- Please.

1218
01:09:22,326 --> 01:09:23,744
Please.

1219
01:09:23,828 --> 01:09:25,663
All right. All right.

1220
01:09:29,291 --> 01:09:31,252
[CLOCK TICKING]

1221
01:09:35,005 --> 01:09:37,675
I certainly didn't mean
to upset her. I…

1222
01:09:40,177 --> 01:09:44,974
Well, I honestly thought I was…
doing the best thing for her.

1223
01:09:55,401 --> 01:09:58,153
You know, Dr. Larabee,

1224
01:09:58,237 --> 01:10:01,323
my child is only 11 years old,

1225
01:10:01,407 --> 01:10:04,660
and she has been through
so much already.

1226
01:10:04,743 --> 01:10:06,662
Her father was killed
when she was six.

1227
01:10:06,745 --> 01:10:10,124
Somebody shot him
on his way home from work.

1228
01:10:10,207 --> 01:10:13,711
Do you have any idea what it's like
for a girl to lose her father that way?

1229
01:10:18,424 --> 01:10:20,426
I can imagine.

1230
01:10:20,509 --> 01:10:24,054
Then why do you wanna cause
this child any more grief?

1231
01:10:24,138 --> 01:10:25,514
That's an unfair accusation.

1232
01:10:25,598 --> 01:10:27,725
Mrs. Anderson, as I've told you,

1233
01:10:27,808 --> 01:10:32,229
I'm… I'm just not in a place
where I can…

1234
01:10:32,313 --> 01:10:34,481
be of any more help
to Akeelah right now.

1235
01:10:34,565 --> 01:10:37,818
But she needs you.
She does.

1236
01:10:37,902 --> 01:10:41,280
I beg to differ, Mrs. Anderson.
It's not me that Akeelah needs.

1237
01:10:44,950 --> 01:10:48,078
<i>I remember when he used to take us out
to the ball games,</i>

1238
01:10:48,162 --> 01:10:50,122
<i>take us to the movies.</i>

1239
01:10:50,205 --> 01:10:52,207
<i>We'd have popcorn fights.</i>

1240
01:10:57,588 --> 01:10:59,131
I wanna tell you something.

1241
01:11:03,093 --> 01:11:05,554
You know why I didn't want you
to do the bee at first?

1242
01:11:07,556 --> 01:11:09,391
'Cause I saw that video of yours,

1243
01:11:09,475 --> 01:11:12,728
and I saw one winner
and 200 losers.

1244
01:11:12,811 --> 01:11:15,773
And I didn't want you
to be one of those losers.

1245
01:11:18,025 --> 01:11:22,529
Did you know your mama…
went to college right after high school?

1246
01:11:23,781 --> 01:11:25,199
No.

1247
01:11:25,282 --> 01:11:29,203
I had a scholarship.
I was gonna be a doctor.

1248
01:11:30,913 --> 01:11:32,706
What happened?

1249
01:11:35,876 --> 01:11:40,214
I just felt so out of place
at that school,

1250
01:11:40,297 --> 01:11:44,885
I convinced myself that I was gonna fail.

1251
01:11:46,428 --> 01:11:49,056
So before that could happen,
I dropped out.

1252
01:11:51,183 --> 01:11:54,186
I don't want you to do
the same thing with this bee.

1253
01:12:07,199 --> 01:12:08,867
"Gabbro.

1254
01:12:08,951 --> 01:12:12,830
A group of dark, heavy rocks."

1255
01:12:14,957 --> 01:12:16,583
Can you spell it for me?

1256
01:12:18,544 --> 01:12:24,425
G-A-B-R-O.
"Gabbro"?

1257
01:12:24,508 --> 01:12:26,927
Actually, it's got two "Bs".

1258
01:12:27,011 --> 01:12:28,262
[BOTH LAUGH]

1259
01:12:30,973 --> 01:12:35,310
You know, Akeelah, you ain't short
on people who wanna help you.

1260
01:12:35,394 --> 01:12:40,482
I'll bet you if you just look around,
you've got 50,000 coaches…

1261
01:12:40,566 --> 01:12:42,609
starting with me.

1262
01:12:45,904 --> 01:12:47,448
- Mama…
- Mm?

1263
01:12:47,531 --> 01:12:52,244
Do you think that maybe
you might go back to college?

1264
01:12:55,873 --> 01:12:57,916
I just might.

1265
01:13:00,753 --> 01:13:02,337
I love you.

1266
01:13:02,421 --> 01:13:04,882
I love you, too.
I love you, too.

1267
01:13:04,965 --> 01:13:08,677
"Craquelure."
C-R-A-Q-U-E-L…

1268
01:13:08,761 --> 01:13:12,222
Hey, yo. So why are you punkin' out
on this spelling bee, huh?

1269
01:13:12,306 --> 01:13:14,475
What, you afraid
of all the suburbia kids now?

1270
01:13:14,558 --> 01:13:15,851
No.

1271
01:13:17,436 --> 01:13:19,104
Hey!

1272
01:13:19,188 --> 01:13:21,231
So how do you spell
all these words anyway?

1273
01:13:21,315 --> 01:13:22,649
I study 'em.

1274
01:13:22,733 --> 01:13:24,693
Whatever.

1275
01:13:24,777 --> 01:13:26,320
Well, there go my ride.

1276
01:13:27,488 --> 01:13:29,406
- Hey, what up, Derrick-T?
- What up, Terrence?

1277
01:13:29,490 --> 01:13:31,283
Who that?

1278
01:13:31,366 --> 01:13:34,328
That ain't nobody.
Just my little sister.

1279
01:13:34,411 --> 01:13:37,956
What up, little thing?
Been seein' you on TV.

1280
01:13:38,040 --> 01:13:40,375
Trying to win some big contest, huh?

1281
01:13:40,459 --> 01:13:42,169
Answer the man.

1282
01:13:43,378 --> 01:13:45,380
You know, I won something once.

1283
01:13:45,464 --> 01:13:47,549
Fifth grade.

1284
01:13:47,633 --> 01:13:49,134
Wrote a poem.

1285
01:13:49,218 --> 01:13:50,886
Even got myself
a blue ribbon, too.

1286
01:13:50,969 --> 01:13:53,055
[LAUGHS]
Yeah, that's good.

1287
01:13:53,138 --> 01:13:55,599
- You wrote yourself a poem.
- Shut up, dawg.

1288
01:13:55,682 --> 01:13:58,477
What you think rap is?

1289
01:13:58,560 --> 01:14:00,062
What's that in your hand?

1290
01:14:00,145 --> 01:14:03,690
- Ain't nothin'. Just some stupid word.
- Oh, you helping her?

1291
01:14:03,774 --> 01:14:06,110
Naw, man. I'm chillin'
with you, right?

1292
01:14:06,193 --> 01:14:08,695
♫

1293
01:14:11,865 --> 01:14:13,450
Nah, man.

1294
01:14:15,869 --> 01:14:17,329
Stay here and help your sis.

1295
01:14:17,412 --> 01:14:19,790
- Why?
- 'Cause I say so.

1296
01:14:19,873 --> 01:14:22,042
Let's break out, man.

1297
01:14:25,295 --> 01:14:27,256
Derrick-T!

1298
01:14:27,339 --> 01:14:30,551
- What's up?
- I wanna read your poem.

1299
01:14:32,052 --> 01:14:34,429
After you win the contest.

1300
01:14:35,472 --> 01:14:36,890
Let's go, man.

1301
01:14:41,145 --> 01:14:43,313
You ain't gotta help me
if you don't wanna.

1302
01:14:47,442 --> 01:14:49,153
En… franchisement?

1303
01:14:49,236 --> 01:14:51,822
You mean "enfranchisement"?

1304
01:14:51,905 --> 01:14:54,324
Hey, whatever.
Can you spell it?

1305
01:14:59,163 --> 01:15:01,373
50,000 coaches.

1306
01:15:01,456 --> 01:15:03,083
♫

1307
01:15:04,751 --> 01:15:07,004
E-N-F-R…

1308
01:15:07,087 --> 01:15:08,839
<i>♪ Wake up, everybody ♪</i>

1309
01:15:08,922 --> 01:15:12,176
<i>♪ No more sleeping in bed ♪</i>

1310
01:15:12,259 --> 01:15:14,094
<i>♪ No more backward thinking ♪</i>

1311
01:15:14,178 --> 01:15:16,972
<i>♪ Time for thinking ahead ♪</i>

1312
01:15:17,055 --> 01:15:19,600
<i>♪ The world has changed ♪
♪ so very much ♪</i>

1313
01:15:19,683 --> 01:15:21,852
<i>♪ From what it used to be ♪</i>

1314
01:15:21,935 --> 01:15:24,438
- Aptery-go-tye.
- What?

1315
01:15:24,521 --> 01:15:27,316
- That right there.
- "Apterygote."

1316
01:15:27,399 --> 01:15:28,859
Maybe you shouldn't
show me the cards.

1317
01:15:28,942 --> 01:15:31,904
<i>♪ - Oh, yeah. Sorry. ♪
♪ - Oh ♪</i>

1318
01:15:35,782 --> 01:15:37,326
<i>♪ Wake up, all the teachers ♪</i>

1319
01:15:37,409 --> 01:15:40,412
<i>♪ Time to teach a new way ♪</i>

1320
01:15:40,495 --> 01:15:42,623
<i>♪ Maybe then they'll listen ♪</i>

1321
01:15:42,706 --> 01:15:45,125
<i>♪ To what you have to say ♪</i>

1322
01:15:45,209 --> 01:15:47,753
<i>♪ 'Cause they're the ones ♪
♪ who's coming up ♪</i>

1323
01:15:47,836 --> 01:15:50,714
<i>♪ And the world is in their hands ♪</i>

1324
01:15:50,797 --> 01:15:52,424
<i>♪ When you teach the children ♪</i>

1325
01:15:52,507 --> 01:15:56,053
<i>♪ Teach 'em the very best you can ♪</i>

1326
01:15:57,721 --> 01:15:59,014
[WOMAN] Whoo!

1327
01:15:59,097 --> 01:16:01,808
You go, Akeelah, baby!
Make us proud!

1328
01:16:06,146 --> 01:16:08,649
♫

1329
01:16:27,584 --> 01:16:30,212
5,000. I learned them all.

1330
01:16:30,295 --> 01:16:32,547
But I had some help.

1331
01:16:33,840 --> 01:16:35,884
You should be very well-prepared, then.

1332
01:16:38,679 --> 01:16:40,597
You know, Dr. Larabee?

1333
01:16:40,681 --> 01:16:42,683
When I was a little girl…

1334
01:16:44,726 --> 01:16:46,603
…my daddy died.

1335
01:16:50,857 --> 01:16:53,485
I used to cry all the time.

1336
01:16:56,238 --> 01:16:58,907
But then…

1337
01:16:58,991 --> 01:17:01,201
I found something that helped.

1338
01:17:02,452 --> 01:17:04,037
What was that?

1339
01:17:04,121 --> 01:17:05,747
I spelled.

1340
01:17:05,831 --> 01:17:09,001
Over and over again…
and I'd feel better.

1341
01:17:13,297 --> 01:17:15,382
Maybe when you're thinking of her…

1342
01:17:16,967 --> 01:17:18,427
…you can try spelling.

1343
01:17:19,428 --> 01:17:21,263
It might help.

1344
01:17:36,903 --> 01:17:38,447
Akeelah.

1345
01:17:42,200 --> 01:17:45,078
- Who told you?
- You did.

1346
01:17:46,079 --> 01:17:48,415
You called me by her name.
Denise.

1347
01:17:55,422 --> 01:17:58,175
That's her jump rope, isn't it?

1348
01:17:58,258 --> 01:18:00,177
Yes.

1349
01:18:03,847 --> 01:18:05,390
Was she your little girl?

1350
01:18:10,228 --> 01:18:11,730
Yes.

1351
01:18:14,608 --> 01:18:16,360
What happened to her?

1352
01:18:26,119 --> 01:18:27,913
She got very sick.

1353
01:18:29,623 --> 01:18:34,169
She was only a couple years younger
than you when she passed.

1354
01:18:40,967 --> 01:18:42,969
Where's her mama?

1355
01:18:43,053 --> 01:18:46,640
She moved to another city,
and, uh…

1356
01:18:48,725 --> 01:18:52,687
After it happened, my wife…

1357
01:18:54,064 --> 01:18:57,984
Patricia, and I found it…

1358
01:19:00,987 --> 01:19:07,119
Slowly it became
very difficult to be…

1359
01:19:17,129 --> 01:19:21,800
Anyway, this is…
this is Patricia's garden.

1360
01:19:24,177 --> 01:19:26,430
You see, I need…

1361
01:19:26,513 --> 01:19:29,349
I need a lot of order in my life.

1362
01:19:29,433 --> 01:19:33,437
That's why I don't teach
in the classrooms anymore.

1363
01:19:33,520 --> 01:19:36,022
It's just too unpredictable.

1364
01:19:36,106 --> 01:19:38,942
Like you.

1365
01:19:39,025 --> 01:19:40,402
This whole spelling bee business now

1366
01:19:40,485 --> 01:19:45,240
has become
a little too unpredictable as well.

1367
01:19:51,079 --> 01:19:53,415
Dr. Larabee…

1368
01:19:54,416 --> 01:19:57,210
I… I can't go to D.C. without you.

1369
01:19:57,294 --> 01:20:00,797
Yes, you can, Akeelah.
You can do anything you want.

1370
01:20:00,881 --> 01:20:01,882
I can't beat Dylan.

1371
01:20:01,965 --> 01:20:04,926
- Don't say that.
- It's true.

1372
01:20:05,010 --> 01:20:08,722
It doesn't matter how many words I learn,
he'll always know more.

1373
01:20:08,805 --> 01:20:12,601
Let me tell you about Dylan.

1374
01:20:12,684 --> 01:20:14,728
There's only one person

1375
01:20:14,811 --> 01:20:19,608
who can push him to spell as well
as he possibly can.

1376
01:20:19,691 --> 01:20:21,109
It's not his Dad.

1377
01:20:21,193 --> 01:20:23,445
It's not the spelling bee people.

1378
01:20:23,528 --> 01:20:25,655
It's not even himself.

1379
01:20:25,739 --> 01:20:29,409
That person is you.

1380
01:20:29,493 --> 01:20:35,999
So, when you and I
get to D.C…

1381
01:20:37,250 --> 01:20:41,046
Let's make sure we give him
a run for his money.

1382
01:20:41,129 --> 01:20:42,380
Okay?

1383
01:20:42,464 --> 01:20:44,966
♫

1384
01:20:52,265 --> 01:20:53,850
[EXHALES]

1385
01:21:02,400 --> 01:21:03,860
Hey.

1386
01:21:05,654 --> 01:21:06,905
Hi.

1387
01:21:06,988 --> 01:21:09,616
I'm off to D.C. tomorrow.

1388
01:21:09,699 --> 01:21:12,118
Yeah? Well, have fun.

1389
01:21:12,202 --> 01:21:13,537
I'm sorry I've been so busy.

1390
01:21:13,620 --> 01:21:17,582
It's just, this whole spelling thing's
been real intense.

1391
01:21:17,666 --> 01:21:19,668
But you know what?

1392
01:21:21,545 --> 01:21:24,631
I'd give it all up if it meant you and me
could hang again.

1393
01:21:24,714 --> 01:21:27,175
- That's stupid.
- Why is it stupid?

1394
01:21:27,259 --> 01:21:31,555
'Cause people want to see you do good.

1395
01:21:31,638 --> 01:21:33,807
I want to see you do good.

1396
01:21:36,351 --> 01:21:39,479
You know what? Georgia,
you're my best friend,

1397
01:21:39,563 --> 01:21:43,608
and you always tell me I can do things,
even when I think I can't.

1398
01:21:44,693 --> 01:21:47,153
But I gotta tell you something.

1399
01:21:47,237 --> 01:21:51,408
If you want to be a flight attendant,
you first gotta ride on a plane.

1400
01:21:51,491 --> 01:21:53,076
I will, someday.

1401
01:21:53,159 --> 01:21:55,745
How about tomorrow?

1402
01:21:58,123 --> 01:21:59,457
[SQUEALS]

1403
01:21:59,541 --> 01:22:00,917
♫

1404
01:22:01,001 --> 01:22:03,837
Girl, I got… I got to talk
to the captain!

1405
01:22:03,920 --> 01:22:07,632
Ooh! Forget flight attendant.
I'm gonna be the pilot.

1406
01:22:07,716 --> 01:22:08,967
[GROANS]

1407
01:22:09,050 --> 01:22:10,302
What's wrong with him?

1408
01:22:10,385 --> 01:22:12,262
He has an aversion to heights.

1409
01:22:12,345 --> 01:22:16,182
It's an aversion to plummeting.
I may puke.

1410
01:22:16,266 --> 01:22:20,937
My brother's in the Air Force,
and he says that fear is all in your head.

1411
01:22:21,021 --> 01:22:23,815
Here. He gave me this
for good luck.

1412
01:22:23,898 --> 01:22:26,860
Don't worry.
I won't impale you.

1413
01:22:26,943 --> 01:22:31,072
You know, I never really thanked you
for helping me at the state bee.

1414
01:22:31,156 --> 01:22:35,577
- No biggie.
- Actually, it was very chivalrous.

1415
01:22:39,414 --> 01:22:43,627
Wow. I'm not thinking
about the plane at all now.

1416
01:22:43,710 --> 01:22:45,253
Well, in that case…

1417
01:22:47,047 --> 01:22:48,298
[LAUGHS]

1418
01:22:48,381 --> 01:22:51,801
<i>♪ Dry all of your tears ♪</i>

1419
01:22:51,885 --> 01:22:56,556
<i>♪ There's a smile, ♪
♪ there's a smile ♪</i>

1420
01:22:58,350 --> 01:23:03,104
<i>♪ Behind all of the rain ♪</i>

1421
01:23:03,188 --> 01:23:07,901
<i>♪ There's sunshine ♪
♪ for miles and miles ♪</i>

1422
01:23:07,984 --> 01:23:12,155
<i>♪ Oh, everything, ♪
♪ everything ♪</i>

1423
01:23:12,238 --> 01:23:15,241
<i>♪ You mean everything ♪</i>

1424
01:23:15,325 --> 01:23:20,830
<i>♪ You mean everything, ♪
♪ everything to me ♪</i>

1425
01:23:20,914 --> 01:23:23,375
<i>♪ Everything to me ♪</i>

1426
01:23:23,458 --> 01:23:26,586
<i>♪ Everything to me ♪</i>

1427
01:23:26,670 --> 01:23:29,130
[SCREAMS AND LAUGHTER]

1428
01:23:29,214 --> 01:23:31,758
- I told you not to shake it!
- I'm sorry.

1429
01:23:31,841 --> 01:23:33,885
Akeelah, I thought you guys
were supposed to be studying?

1430
01:23:33,968 --> 01:23:35,220
- We are.
- Uh-uh.

1431
01:23:35,303 --> 01:23:36,805
It sound like a party in here.

1432
01:23:36,888 --> 01:23:38,348
Come on, now. You got
a big day tomorrow.

1433
01:23:38,431 --> 01:23:40,392
- Y'all better call it a night.
- Half an hour more.

1434
01:23:40,475 --> 01:23:42,644
- 15 minutes.
- [DOOR CLOSES]

1435
01:23:42,727 --> 01:23:44,938
What do you think Dylan's doing now?

1436
01:23:45,021 --> 01:23:46,940
Trying to learn ancient Greek.

1437
01:23:47,023 --> 01:23:48,733
Maybe we should invite him over.

1438
01:23:48,817 --> 01:23:50,402
That turd juggler?
Forget it.

1439
01:23:50,485 --> 01:23:52,696
I'll be back.

1440
01:23:55,198 --> 01:23:58,201
- Yes?
- Is Dylan here?

1441
01:24:00,704 --> 01:24:02,163
He's busy.

1442
01:24:02,247 --> 01:24:07,585
Well, me and some of the other kids
are hanging out in my room,

1443
01:24:07,669 --> 01:24:09,713
drinking soda pop
and watching movies.

1444
01:24:09,796 --> 01:24:12,257
We thought maybe
he'd like to come over.

1445
01:24:12,340 --> 01:24:15,051
I'm sorry, but tomorrow is
the spelling bee.

1446
01:24:15,135 --> 01:24:18,513
Well, you know,
sometimes it's okay to take a little rest

1447
01:24:18,596 --> 01:24:20,432
right before
the big event, you know?

1448
01:24:20,515 --> 01:24:25,061
Well, perhaps that is your strategy,
but not ours.

1449
01:24:25,145 --> 01:24:26,438
Wait, wait!

1450
01:24:28,022 --> 01:24:29,858
This is for Dylan.

1451
01:24:35,822 --> 01:24:37,073
Okay.

1452
01:24:39,284 --> 01:24:41,119
[DR. LARABEE]
<i>"Our deepest fear</i>

1453
01:24:41,202 --> 01:24:43,705
<i>is not that we are inadequate.</i>

1454
01:24:43,788 --> 01:24:45,665
<i>Our deepest fear</i>

1455
01:24:45,749 --> 01:24:50,211
<i>is that we are powerful
beyond measure.</i>

1456
01:24:50,295 --> 01:24:51,880
<i>We ask ourselves,</i>

1457
01:24:51,963 --> 01:24:55,675
<i>'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,</i>

1458
01:24:55,759 --> 01:24:59,220
<i>talented, and fabulous?'</i>

1459
01:24:59,304 --> 01:25:04,642
<i>Actually, who
are you not to be?"</i>

1460
01:25:12,025 --> 01:25:13,902
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

1461
01:25:20,158 --> 01:25:23,328
[MAN] Check. Check, 1, 2.

1462
01:25:40,345 --> 01:25:43,556
It's okay.
There.

1463
01:25:57,987 --> 01:26:00,323
I'm Ted Saunders here
with Katie Kerwin McCrimmon,

1464
01:26:00,406 --> 01:26:02,700
broadcasting live
from the main ballroom

1465
01:26:02,784 --> 01:26:05,078
<i>of the Grand Hyatt Washington.</i>

1466
01:26:05,161 --> 01:26:07,163
<i>Now, Katie, as a former
spelling bee champ yourself,</i>

1467
01:26:07,247 --> 01:26:11,000
<i>who do you think we should be looking for
to do well in this year's competition?</i>

1468
01:26:11,084 --> 01:26:13,920
[KATIE] <i>Several of the kids
placed very high in last year's bee,</i>

1469
01:26:14,003 --> 01:26:15,672
<i>especially Dylan Chiu.</i>

1470
01:26:15,755 --> 01:26:18,383
<i>He's come in second two years in a row.</i>

1471
01:26:18,466 --> 01:26:21,761
Kick his butt, Akeelah.
B-u-t-t, butt!

1472
01:26:21,845 --> 01:26:23,805
[KATIE] <i>But the speller
I've really got my eye on</i>

1473
01:26:23,888 --> 01:26:26,724
<i>is little Akeelah Anderson
from Los Angeles.</i>

1474
01:26:26,808 --> 01:26:28,601
<i>She's become a bit of a media sensation.</i>

1475
01:26:28,685 --> 01:26:30,520
Yeah! That's my sister!

1476
01:26:30,603 --> 01:26:34,190
[KATIE] <i>It's her first try
at the spelling bee circuit.</i>

1477
01:26:34,274 --> 01:26:36,734
♫

1478
01:27:40,298 --> 01:27:42,675
Could you repeat the word, please?

1479
01:27:42,759 --> 01:27:45,762
"Ratiocinate." Ratiocinate.

1480
01:27:45,845 --> 01:27:48,139
What in the hell kind of word is that?

1481
01:27:48,222 --> 01:27:49,766
<i>R-A-</i>

1482
01:27:49,849 --> 01:27:52,101
T-I-O-

1483
01:27:52,185 --> 01:27:56,898
C-I-N-A-T-E.

1484
01:27:56,981 --> 01:27:58,316
"Ratiocinate."

1485
01:27:58,399 --> 01:27:59,400
That's correct.

1486
01:27:59,484 --> 01:28:01,486
- [APPLAUSE]
- Yes.

1487
01:28:03,071 --> 01:28:04,072
[CHEERING]

1488
01:28:05,198 --> 01:28:07,325
[TED] <i>For an 11-year-old kid,
that's just amazing!</i>

1489
01:28:07,408 --> 01:28:11,287
[KATIE] But watch out.
One wrong letter, and that's it.

1490
01:28:12,872 --> 01:28:14,707
[MALE JUDGE] "Oersted."

1491
01:28:14,791 --> 01:28:16,042
What's the language of origin?

1492
01:28:16,125 --> 01:28:17,877
<i>It's from a Danish name.</i>

1493
01:28:17,961 --> 01:28:19,420
I can't stand this Korean kid.

1494
01:28:19,504 --> 01:28:21,214
- He's Chinese.
- He's uppity.

1495
01:28:21,297 --> 01:28:23,591
O-E-R-S-T-E-D.

1496
01:28:23,675 --> 01:28:25,343
[FEMALE JUDGE] That's correct.

1497
01:28:32,684 --> 01:28:33,935
What's the definition?

1498
01:28:34,018 --> 01:28:35,728
[MALE JUDGE]
Xylem is a complex tissue

1499
01:28:35,812 --> 01:28:38,690
in the vascular system
of higher plants.

1500
01:28:38,773 --> 01:28:42,568
Xylem. X-Y-L-E-M.
"Xylem"?

1501
01:28:42,652 --> 01:28:43,987
That's correct.

1502
01:28:47,573 --> 01:28:50,618
They thought they had me,
but I was too much for them.

1503
01:28:50,702 --> 01:28:52,078
[GIGGLES]

1504
01:28:52,161 --> 01:28:55,331
<i>… T-H-O-E-P-Y.</i>

1505
01:28:55,415 --> 01:28:57,125
- "Orthoepy."
- [FEMALE JUDGE] That's correct.

1506
01:28:57,208 --> 01:28:58,209
[BELL DINGS]

1507
01:28:58,292 --> 01:28:59,669
"Flocculation" is originally Latin.

1508
01:28:59,752 --> 01:29:01,337
Could you use it
in a sentence, please?

1509
01:29:01,421 --> 01:29:02,422
"Flocculation."

1510
01:29:02,505 --> 01:29:05,133
- Can I have a definition, please?
- That's correct.

1511
01:29:05,216 --> 01:29:06,592
- [MALE JUDGE] Lobscouse.
- The language of origin, please.

1512
01:29:06,676 --> 01:29:07,677
[BELL RINGS]

1513
01:29:07,760 --> 01:29:09,095
Any alternate pronunciations?

1514
01:29:09,178 --> 01:29:10,346
"Gastromithia."

1515
01:29:10,430 --> 01:29:11,431
Can I get a definition, please?

1516
01:29:12,849 --> 01:29:13,891
[BELL DINGS]

1517
01:29:13,975 --> 01:29:16,185
- Latin.
- "Sclerotic."

1518
01:29:16,269 --> 01:29:17,979
- "Madrigal."
- That's correct.

1519
01:29:18,062 --> 01:29:20,648
- Can I have the definition, please?
- From earliest known time.

1520
01:29:20,732 --> 01:29:22,442
- "Aboriginally?"
- Correct.

1521
01:29:22,525 --> 01:29:23,818
- Language of origin?
- Yes!

1522
01:29:24,819 --> 01:29:26,362
"Empleomania."

1523
01:29:26,446 --> 01:29:29,782
…in any ratio without separation
of two phases.

1524
01:29:29,866 --> 01:29:32,118
<i>M-I-S-C-I-B-L-E.
"Miscible."</i>

1525
01:29:32,201 --> 01:29:33,286
Yeah!

1526
01:29:33,369 --> 01:29:36,414
[KATIE] We're here in the eighth round
of the National Spelling Bee,

1527
01:29:36,497 --> 01:29:39,125
with only 30 spellers remaining.

1528
01:29:39,208 --> 01:29:44,839
…U-R-S-U-S.
<i>"Excursus</i>"?

1529
01:29:45,840 --> 01:29:47,008
[CROWD] Oh!

1530
01:29:48,384 --> 01:29:49,719
"Argillaceous."

1531
01:29:49,802 --> 01:29:51,846
Excuse me?

1532
01:29:51,929 --> 01:29:53,014
"Argillaceous."

1533
01:29:53,097 --> 01:29:55,892
Can I have
the definition, please?

1534
01:29:55,975 --> 01:29:58,519
Argillaceous means of, relating to,

1535
01:29:58,603 --> 01:30:01,147
or containing clay
or clay minerals.

1536
01:30:01,230 --> 01:30:02,565
May I have the language
of origin, please?

1537
01:30:02,648 --> 01:30:03,649
Latin.

1538
01:30:03,733 --> 01:30:05,568
Man, that's a white word
if I ever heard one!

1539
01:30:05,651 --> 01:30:06,986
It's a trick!
Stop playing!

1540
01:30:07,070 --> 01:30:09,822
[KATIE] <i>It's a suffix that would trip up
most people.</i>

1541
01:30:09,906 --> 01:30:13,326
<i>They would tend to spell it
T-I-O-U-S or C-I-O-U-S.</i>

1542
01:30:13,409 --> 01:30:17,038
Is it derived from the Latin word <i>argilla,</i>
meaning clay?

1543
01:30:17,121 --> 01:30:18,289
[MALE JUDGE] That's correct.

1544
01:30:22,293 --> 01:30:27,590
A-R-G-

1545
01:30:27,673 --> 01:30:32,053
I-L-L-

1546
01:30:32,136 --> 01:30:34,138
A…

1547
01:30:36,891 --> 01:30:37,934
Come on.

1548
01:30:51,572 --> 01:30:53,074
Can I start over?

1549
01:30:53,157 --> 01:30:57,078
You may, but you cannot change
the letters you've already spelled.

1550
01:31:14,220 --> 01:31:17,140
A-R-G-

1551
01:31:17,223 --> 01:31:19,684
I-L-L-

1552
01:31:19,767 --> 01:31:22,812
A-C-E-

1553
01:31:22,895 --> 01:31:25,189
O-U-S.

1554
01:31:25,273 --> 01:31:26,649
"Argillaceous."

1555
01:31:26,732 --> 01:31:27,984
That's correct.

1556
01:31:28,067 --> 01:31:30,611
[CHEERING]

1557
01:31:35,199 --> 01:31:36,659
She got it! That's my little sister!

1558
01:31:44,792 --> 01:31:47,295
♫

1559
01:31:53,759 --> 01:31:55,386
Well, it's the 12th round, folks,

1560
01:31:55,469 --> 01:31:57,889
and the five remaining spellers are

1561
01:31:57,972 --> 01:31:59,849
<i>Mary Calvaretti, age 12,</i>

1562
01:31:59,932 --> 01:32:02,059
<i>13-year-old Rajeev Supramonian,</i>

1563
01:32:02,143 --> 01:32:04,145
<i>12-year-old Javier Mendez,</i>

1564
01:32:04,228 --> 01:32:05,646
<i>Dylan Chiu,
also of Woodland Hills…</i>

1565
01:32:05,730 --> 01:32:07,690
<i>Wow, they really crank 'em out
down there, don't they?</i>

1566
01:32:07,773 --> 01:32:09,233
Of course, Akeelah Anderson.

1567
01:32:09,317 --> 01:32:12,570
[CHEERING]

1568
01:32:12,653 --> 01:32:15,156
Could you use the word
in a sentence, please?

1569
01:32:15,239 --> 01:32:16,532
"The Merovingian kings

1570
01:32:16,616 --> 01:32:19,493
were known for having
long, red hair."

1571
01:32:19,577 --> 01:32:21,787
Okay. Uh…

1572
01:32:22,788 --> 01:32:26,250
M-A-

1573
01:32:26,334 --> 01:32:29,837
R-O-V-

1574
01:32:29,921 --> 01:32:32,006
I-N-G-

1575
01:32:32,089 --> 01:32:33,591
I-A-N?

1576
01:32:33,674 --> 01:32:35,718
"Merovingian"?

1577
01:32:35,801 --> 01:32:37,220
[BELL DINGS]

1578
01:32:37,303 --> 01:32:39,639
[CROWD] Oh!

1579
01:32:39,722 --> 01:32:45,728
[MALE JUDGE] "Merovingian" is spelled
M-E-R-O-V-I-N-G-I-A-N.

1580
01:32:53,027 --> 01:32:54,904
[LAUGHTER]

1581
01:32:54,987 --> 01:32:56,447
Forgot to spell it how it sounds.

1582
01:32:56,530 --> 01:32:58,699
13th last year, 5th this year.

1583
01:32:58,783 --> 01:33:01,953
Next year, I'll take it all.
Now it's your turn.

1584
01:33:10,086 --> 01:33:13,047
…I-S-M.
"Mithraditism."

1585
01:33:13,130 --> 01:33:14,715
[BELL DINGS]

1586
01:33:14,799 --> 01:33:16,884
…P-I-S-C-E-N-C-E.

1587
01:33:16,968 --> 01:33:18,886
- "Resipiscence."
- [FEMALE JUDGE] That's correct.

1588
01:33:18,970 --> 01:33:22,181
…F-I-R-E?
"Vitrophyre"?

1589
01:33:22,265 --> 01:33:24,350
- [BELL DINGS]
- Oh! Darn it!

1590
01:33:24,433 --> 01:33:28,062
…I-N-O-U-S.
"Serpiginous".

1591
01:33:28,145 --> 01:33:30,356
- [FEMALE JUDGE] That's correct.
- Yes!

1592
01:33:33,109 --> 01:33:34,777
That's my baby.

1593
01:33:42,493 --> 01:33:44,078
[FEMALE JUDGE] We're going
to take a small break

1594
01:33:44,161 --> 01:33:47,665
before Akeelah and Dylan commence
with the championship level words.

1595
01:33:47,748 --> 01:33:49,000
[APPLAUSE]

1596
01:33:49,083 --> 01:33:50,334
♫

1597
01:33:58,634 --> 01:33:59,885
[CHUCKLES]

1598
01:34:05,266 --> 01:34:07,268
Pretty good, huh?

1599
01:34:11,188 --> 01:34:13,816
[MR. CHIU] You know
what happened last year.

1600
01:34:13,899 --> 01:34:17,570
Make sure you stay focused, right?

1601
01:34:17,653 --> 01:34:20,823
This is your last
National Spelling Bee.

1602
01:34:20,906 --> 01:34:24,869
If you lose to that girl,
you're second place your whole life!

1603
01:34:24,952 --> 01:34:29,290
No way! You hear me?
No way!

1604
01:34:29,373 --> 01:34:31,834
Peeking on someone?

1605
01:34:31,917 --> 01:34:33,961
Just wishing Dylan good luck.

1606
01:34:34,045 --> 01:34:37,048
You've done a superb job.
I'm so proud of you.

1607
01:34:37,131 --> 01:34:41,218
Now, listen, they're going to hit you
with every trick word they've got.

1608
01:34:41,302 --> 01:34:43,512
Now, you just remember
the things that we've studied.

1609
01:34:43,596 --> 01:34:47,433
You can take these words apart
even if you've never seen them, right?

1610
01:34:47,516 --> 01:34:51,312
But if I don't beat Dylan,
I've still got next year, right?

1611
01:34:51,395 --> 01:34:52,563
Well, of course you do.

1612
01:34:52,646 --> 01:34:55,816
Although I don't know how much time
we'll have to train together.

1613
01:34:55,900 --> 01:35:00,404
I've been asked to come back
and teach at UCLA, and I've said yes.

1614
01:35:00,488 --> 01:35:02,448
Really?

1615
01:35:02,531 --> 01:35:05,868
Well, far be it from me
to deny the next W.E.B. Dubois

1616
01:35:05,951 --> 01:35:10,164
the benefits of my acerbic wit
and sour disposition.

1617
01:35:10,247 --> 01:35:11,665
[CHUCKLES]

1618
01:35:11,749 --> 01:35:12,750
[DOOR OPENS]

1619
01:35:14,126 --> 01:35:15,544
[CLEARS THROAT]

1620
01:35:19,423 --> 01:35:20,674
What's the matter?

1621
01:35:20,758 --> 01:35:23,594
Nothing, Dr. Larabee.

1622
01:35:23,677 --> 01:35:25,513
I should get back.

1623
01:35:25,596 --> 01:35:27,807
No matter what happens…

1624
01:35:29,767 --> 01:35:33,687
I want you to know that I couldn't have
gotten this far without you.

1625
01:35:35,356 --> 01:35:37,733
Akeelah, baby,
there you are. Come on.

1626
01:35:37,817 --> 01:35:39,151
I gotta go.

1627
01:35:40,486 --> 01:35:42,405
They're about to start up again.

1628
01:35:44,990 --> 01:35:47,493
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

1629
01:35:52,706 --> 01:35:54,667
[LAUGHS]

1630
01:35:54,750 --> 01:35:58,379
Don't look so nervous.
I hear she had a pretty good coach.

1631
01:35:58,462 --> 01:36:00,089
[BOTH CHUCKLE]

1632
01:36:00,172 --> 01:36:02,007
You know, I just found out

1633
01:36:02,091 --> 01:36:05,219
that the bee only gives
each kid two plane tickets.

1634
01:36:05,302 --> 01:36:08,472
I was wondering how
we ended up with six.

1635
01:36:08,556 --> 01:36:10,516
Oh.

1636
01:36:10,599 --> 01:36:15,604
Perhaps it was some unexpected largesse
on the part of the bee.

1637
01:36:16,939 --> 01:36:21,986
Or perhaps Akeelah's coach
is also pretty generous.

1638
01:36:22,069 --> 01:36:24,155
[CHUCKLES]

1639
01:36:25,948 --> 01:36:28,033
Thanks…

1640
01:36:28,117 --> 01:36:29,952
for everything.

1641
01:36:30,035 --> 01:36:32,288
You're welcome.

1642
01:36:32,371 --> 01:36:33,998
[FEMALE JUDGE]
Ladies and gentlemen,

1643
01:36:34,081 --> 01:36:36,959
let's welcome Akeelah and Dylan
back to the stage.

1644
01:36:38,586 --> 01:36:40,963
[TED] Now remember, if either
speller misses a word,

1645
01:36:41,046 --> 01:36:44,842
the other has to spell that missed word
plus another to win, right?

1646
01:36:44,925 --> 01:36:46,177
[KATIE] That's right,

1647
01:36:46,260 --> 01:36:49,722
and we could exhaust
all 25 championship words,

1648
01:36:49,805 --> 01:36:51,348
but it's never happened.

1649
01:36:51,432 --> 01:36:54,018
The championship words
are just too difficult.

1650
01:36:54,101 --> 01:36:55,644
"Filiopietistic."

1651
01:36:55,728 --> 01:36:57,271
Can I have the definition, please?

1652
01:36:57,354 --> 01:37:00,024
[MALE JUDGE] "Of or relating to an often
excessive veneration

1653
01:37:00,107 --> 01:37:02,526
of ancestors or tradition."

1654
01:37:02,610 --> 01:37:05,029
"Filiopietistic."

1655
01:37:05,112 --> 01:37:08,491
F-I-L-

1656
01:37:08,574 --> 01:37:12,786
I-O-P-I-E-T-I…

1657
01:37:12,870 --> 01:37:15,372
[MUSIC BUILDS OVER AUDIO]

1658
01:37:29,094 --> 01:37:31,222
Akeelah, you're up.

1659
01:37:38,479 --> 01:37:39,897
"Xanthosis."

1660
01:37:39,980 --> 01:37:41,982
"Xanthosis"?

1661
01:37:42,066 --> 01:37:43,859
It starts with an "X."

1662
01:38:03,254 --> 01:38:04,755
Miss Anderson.

1663
01:38:13,347 --> 01:38:16,433
"Xanthosis."

1664
01:38:16,517 --> 01:38:18,602
Z-A-N-

1665
01:38:18,686 --> 01:38:21,480
T-H-O-

1666
01:38:21,564 --> 01:38:23,816
S-I-S.

1667
01:38:23,899 --> 01:38:26,610
"Xanthosis."

1668
01:38:26,694 --> 01:38:29,405
- [BELL DINGS]
- [ALL GROANING]

1669
01:38:30,739 --> 01:38:33,242
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

1670
01:38:41,917 --> 01:38:44,044
[FEMALE JUDGE]
Dylan, it's your turn.

1671
01:38:50,843 --> 01:38:51,927
"Xanthosis."

1672
01:39:06,442 --> 01:39:08,068
"Xanthosis."

1673
01:39:08,152 --> 01:39:10,946
X-A-N-

1674
01:39:11,030 --> 01:39:13,115
T-H-

1675
01:39:13,198 --> 01:39:14,658
O-S…

1676
01:39:17,620 --> 01:39:18,871
E-S.

1677
01:39:18,954 --> 01:39:21,790
"Xanthosis."

1678
01:39:21,874 --> 01:39:22,916
[BELL DINGS]

1679
01:39:23,000 --> 01:39:24,585
[CROWD MURMURS]

1680
01:39:24,668 --> 01:39:30,466
[MALE JUDGE] Xanthosis is spelled
X-A-N-T-H-O-S-IS.

1681
01:39:33,844 --> 01:39:35,763
Can I get some water, please?

1682
01:39:35,846 --> 01:39:38,140
Can we please get both spellers
some water?

1683
01:39:44,355 --> 01:39:46,899
<i>- What</i> are you doing?
- What are <i>you</i> doing?

1684
01:39:46,982 --> 01:39:49,526
- You just threw that word.
- So did you.

1685
01:39:49,610 --> 01:39:50,986
You're just gonna give this all away?

1686
01:39:51,070 --> 01:39:53,322
Your dad will be happy.

1687
01:39:54,698 --> 01:39:58,702
Who cares? He's never won
anything in his life.

1688
01:39:58,786 --> 01:40:00,954
I won the regionals
three times in a row,

1689
01:40:01,038 --> 01:40:03,457
and I finished second
in the nationals twice.

1690
01:40:03,540 --> 01:40:07,628
And now you can finish first.
I can do it next year.

1691
01:40:07,711 --> 01:40:08,962
You do your best this year.

1692
01:40:10,005 --> 01:40:12,466
- Dylan.
- You do your best…

1693
01:40:12,549 --> 01:40:14,009
or I don't want it.

1694
01:40:15,636 --> 01:40:17,012
[MAN] Here's your water.

1695
01:40:24,645 --> 01:40:27,481
That's kind of amazing, isn't it,
that both of these incredible spellers

1696
01:40:27,564 --> 01:40:30,109
<i>- would stumble on that word?</i>
- [KATIE] <i>I think we've got</i>

1697
01:40:30,192 --> 01:40:32,069
<i>some pretty nervous kids up there.</i>

1698
01:40:32,152 --> 01:40:36,031
<i>"Effleurage</i>" or "<i>effleurage."</i>

1699
01:40:40,744 --> 01:40:42,579
E-F-F-

1700
01:40:42,663 --> 01:40:43,914
L-E-U-

1701
01:40:43,997 --> 01:40:46,250
R-A-G-E.

1702
01:40:46,333 --> 01:40:47,584
"Effleurage."

1703
01:40:47,668 --> 01:40:48,919
That's correct.

1704
01:40:49,002 --> 01:40:50,587
[CHEERS]

1705
01:40:52,131 --> 01:40:53,716
[TED] <i>I tell you, this is just
like watching</i>

1706
01:40:53,799 --> 01:40:56,844
<i>two star tennis players
at the net, returning volleys.</i>

1707
01:40:56,927 --> 01:40:58,595
<i>I mean, these kids are incredible.</i>

1708
01:40:58,679 --> 01:41:01,765
"Lagniappe."
L-A-G-N-I-A-P-P-E.

1709
01:41:01,849 --> 01:41:03,142
- "Lagniappe."
- "Summiteer."

1710
01:41:03,225 --> 01:41:04,435
Could you use it in a sentence, please?

1711
01:41:04,518 --> 01:41:06,019
- Is it a verb?
- "Optimality."

1712
01:41:06,103 --> 01:41:07,730
- "Tralaticious."
- That's correct.

1713
01:41:07,813 --> 01:41:09,523
- "Reciprocity."
- "Parrhesia."

1714
01:41:09,606 --> 01:41:10,858
- Is that Greek?
- Is that Latin?

1715
01:41:10,941 --> 01:41:12,401
- What's the language…
- …of origin, please?

1716
01:41:12,484 --> 01:41:13,777
- "Liophilize."
- "Zarzuela."

1717
01:41:13,861 --> 01:41:15,362
- "Vibrissae."
- "Craquelure."

1718
01:41:15,446 --> 01:41:16,572
That's correct.

1719
01:41:16,655 --> 01:41:20,117
[TED] These kids are chewing
through these super-tough words

1720
01:41:20,200 --> 01:41:21,660
like they were breakfast cereal.

1721
01:41:21,744 --> 01:41:24,288
[KATIE] You know, they could
actually go the distance

1722
01:41:24,371 --> 01:41:27,207
and most people consider that
unthinkable.

1723
01:41:27,291 --> 01:41:30,627
[FEMALE JUDGE] We're now 13 words
into the championship level.

1724
01:41:30,711 --> 01:41:34,548
If you make it through the remaining
12 words, you'll be co-champions.

1725
01:41:34,631 --> 01:41:37,509
That's never happened before.

1726
01:41:37,593 --> 01:41:39,052
- "Vinegarroon."
- "Ecdysis."

1727
01:41:39,136 --> 01:41:40,679
<i>- "Concitato."</i>
- "Puerperal."

1728
01:41:40,763 --> 01:41:42,222
That's correct.

1729
01:41:42,306 --> 01:41:44,850
[TED] <i>Dylan and Akeelah are
trying to stage a miracle here.</i>

1730
01:41:44,933 --> 01:41:46,477
[KATIE] <i>And to make it
to the finish line,</i>

1731
01:41:46,560 --> 01:41:48,312
they need each other to succeed.

1732
01:41:48,395 --> 01:41:51,106
E-R-A-Z…

1733
01:41:57,988 --> 01:42:00,240
A-D-I-A-N.

1734
01:42:00,324 --> 01:42:01,617
"Scheherazadian"?

1735
01:42:01,700 --> 01:42:04,453
- That's correct.
- [APPLAUSE]

1736
01:42:06,413 --> 01:42:11,210
…L-O-G-I-

1737
01:42:11,293 --> 01:42:13,921
C-A-L.

1738
01:42:14,004 --> 01:42:16,465
- "Palynological."
- That's correct.

1739
01:42:16,548 --> 01:42:17,883
[CHEERING]

1740
01:42:22,596 --> 01:42:24,056
[FEMALE JUDGE]
Ladies and gentlemen,

1741
01:42:24,139 --> 01:42:27,226
we are down to the final
two championship words.

1742
01:42:27,309 --> 01:42:32,731
One or both of our spellers will walk away
with the first-place trophy.

1743
01:42:32,815 --> 01:42:34,316
Dylan, you're up.

1744
01:42:41,406 --> 01:42:42,741
"Logorrhea."

1745
01:42:42,825 --> 01:42:45,410
May I have the definition, please?

1746
01:42:45,494 --> 01:42:50,123
Logorrhea is excessive and often
incoherent talkativeness.

1747
01:42:53,585 --> 01:42:55,003
[EXHALES]

1748
01:42:56,713 --> 01:42:58,340
"Logorrhea."

1749
01:43:01,051 --> 01:43:03,762
L-

1750
01:43:03,846 --> 01:43:07,474
O-G-

1751
01:43:07,558 --> 01:43:13,146
O-R-R-

1752
01:43:13,230 --> 01:43:17,192
H-E-A.

1753
01:43:17,276 --> 01:43:19,111
"Logorrhea"?

1754
01:43:19,194 --> 01:43:20,654
[FEMALE JUDGE]
Congratulations, Dylan.

1755
01:43:20,737 --> 01:43:23,574
You've won the Scripps
National Spelling Bee.

1756
01:43:23,657 --> 01:43:27,286
Yes! Yes!

1757
01:43:27,369 --> 01:43:28,745
[CHEERING]

1758
01:43:31,623 --> 01:43:32,875
Go get 'em.

1759
01:43:38,171 --> 01:43:39,923
[FEMALE JUDGE]
Ladies and gentlemen,

1760
01:43:40,007 --> 01:43:42,217
please be seated for Akeelah's turn.

1761
01:43:43,552 --> 01:43:46,513
♫

1762
01:43:48,557 --> 01:43:50,225
"Pulchritude."

1763
01:43:51,393 --> 01:43:53,437
"Pulchritude."

1764
01:43:59,026 --> 01:44:02,321
It's derived from
the Latin word <i>pulcher,</i>

1765
01:44:02,404 --> 01:44:05,240
meaning "beautiful",

1766
01:44:05,324 --> 01:44:07,701
- isn't it?
- That's correct.

1767
01:44:07,784 --> 01:44:10,162
- P-
- U-

1768
01:44:10,245 --> 01:44:11,663
- L-
- C-

1769
01:44:11,747 --> 01:44:13,165
- H-
- R-

1770
01:44:13,248 --> 01:44:14,583
- I-
- T-

1771
01:44:14,666 --> 01:44:16,084
- U-
- D-

1772
01:44:16,168 --> 01:44:17,252
E.

1773
01:44:17,336 --> 01:44:18,879
"Pulchritude."

1774
01:44:21,924 --> 01:44:23,175
Congratulations, Akeelah.

1775
01:44:23,258 --> 01:44:25,010
[CHEERING]

1776
01:44:28,597 --> 01:44:29,932
That's what I'm talking about!

1777
01:44:33,644 --> 01:44:35,145
[AKEELAH] <i>You know that feeling</i>

1778
01:44:35,228 --> 01:44:36,521
<i>where everything feels right,</i>

1779
01:44:36,605 --> 01:44:40,817
<i>where you don't have to worry
about tomorrow or yesterday,</i>

1780
01:44:40,901 --> 01:44:43,445
<i>but you feel safe</i>

1781
01:44:43,528 --> 01:44:45,948
<i>and know you're doing
the best you can?</i>

1782
01:44:46,031 --> 01:44:48,075
<i>There's a word for that feeling.</i>

1783
01:44:48,158 --> 01:44:50,327
<i>It's called love.</i>

1784
01:44:50,410 --> 01:44:53,830
<i>L-O-V-E.</i>

1785
01:44:53,914 --> 01:44:56,583
<i>And it's what I feel for all my family</i>

1786
01:44:56,667 --> 01:45:00,170
<i>and all my coaches
in my neighborhood</i>

1787
01:45:00,253 --> 01:45:01,880
<i>where I come from,</i>

1788
01:45:01,964 --> 01:45:05,467
<i>where I learned how to spell.</i>

1789
01:45:05,550 --> 01:45:08,804
♫

1790
01:45:08,887 --> 01:45:11,723
[CHEERING AND APPLAUSE]

1791
01:45:19,523 --> 01:45:21,316
[INDISTINCT TALKING AND LAUGHTER]

1792
01:45:24,695 --> 01:45:26,363
We did it.

1793
01:45:45,716 --> 01:45:49,261
<i>♪ Write it down ♪
♪ a thousand times ♪</i>

1794
01:45:49,344 --> 01:45:55,142
<i>♪ For a little word ♪
♪ that makes me cry ♪</i>

1795
01:45:55,225 --> 01:45:58,854
<i>♪ How I feel about it, ♪
♪ I can't decide ♪</i>

1796
01:45:58,937 --> 01:46:05,152
<i>♪ No, I don't know, ♪
♪ so I'll improvise ♪</i>

1797
01:46:05,235 --> 01:46:08,822
<i>♪ Is it living in our heart ♪</i>

1798
01:46:08,905 --> 01:46:11,199
<i>♪ Or in our mind? ♪</i>

1799
01:46:11,283 --> 01:46:13,452
<i>♪ I don't know ♪</i>

1800
01:46:13,535 --> 01:46:18,373
<i>♪ So, world, ready or not ♪</i>

1801
01:46:18,457 --> 01:46:23,754
<i>♪ Here I go, searching ♪
♪ for the answer ♪</i>

1802
01:46:23,837 --> 01:46:28,133
<i>♪ And I'm not gonna stop ♪</i>

1803
01:46:28,216 --> 01:46:30,635
<i>♪ Till I find ♪</i>

1804
01:46:30,719 --> 01:46:33,722
<i>♪ Where it lives inside me ♪</i>

1805
01:46:33,805 --> 01:46:38,810
<i>♪ How does it come to be? ♪</i>

1806
01:46:38,894 --> 01:46:43,523
<i>♪ What should it mean to me? ♪</i>

1807
01:46:43,607 --> 01:46:47,319
<i>♪ Teach me the definition ♪</i>

1808
01:46:47,402 --> 01:46:50,989
<i>♪ Of true love ♪</i>

1809
01:46:53,241 --> 01:46:55,202
<i>♪ Ooh, ooh, oh ♪</i>

1810
01:46:59,247 --> 01:47:03,085
<i>♪ I was so afraid I'd never succeed ♪</i>

1811
01:47:03,168 --> 01:47:07,631
<i>♪ But you made me feel ♪
♪ I could do anything ♪</i>

1812
01:47:09,382 --> 01:47:13,178
<i>♪ Memorize the things ♪
♪ you would say and do ♪</i>

1813
01:47:13,261 --> 01:47:15,222
<i>♪ Must be loving the strength ♪</i>

1814
01:47:15,305 --> 01:47:19,184
<i>♪ That I found in you ♪</i>

1815
01:47:19,267 --> 01:47:22,813
<i>♪ Is it living in our heart ♪</i>

1816
01:47:22,896 --> 01:47:25,190
<i>♪ Or in our mind? ♪</i>

1817
01:47:25,273 --> 01:47:29,694
<i>♪ I don't know ♪</i>

1818
01:47:29,778 --> 01:47:33,573
<i>♪ So, world, ready or not ♪</i>

1819
01:47:33,657 --> 01:47:34,950
<i>♪ Ooh ♪</i>

1820
01:47:35,033 --> 01:47:40,122
<i>♪ Here I go, searching for the answer ♪</i>

1821
01:47:40,205 --> 01:47:44,459
<i>♪ And I'm not gonna stop ♪</i>

1822
01:47:44,543 --> 01:47:46,962
<i>♪ Till I find ♪</i>

1823
01:47:47,045 --> 01:47:50,298
<i>♪ Where it lives inside me ♪</i>

1824
01:47:50,382 --> 01:47:54,761
<i>♪ How does it come to be? ♪</i>

1825
01:47:54,845 --> 01:47:59,683
<i>♪ What should it mean to me? ♪</i>

1826
01:47:59,766 --> 01:48:03,687
<i>♪ Teach me the definition ♪</i>

1827
01:48:03,770 --> 01:48:07,899
<i>♪ Of true love ♪</i>

1828
01:48:07,983 --> 01:48:11,903
<i>♪ Love's not wrong, it feels good ♪</i>

1829
01:48:11,987 --> 01:48:14,489
<i>♪ True love always believes ♪</i>

1830
01:48:14,573 --> 01:48:18,827
<i>♪ And it begins without major risk ♪</i>

1831
01:48:18,910 --> 01:48:21,746
<i>♪ Gonna sacrifice ♪</i>

1832
01:48:21,830 --> 01:48:24,207
<i>♪ Unconditionally ♪</i>

1833
01:48:24,291 --> 01:48:27,836
<i>♪ So, world, ready or not ♪</i>

1834
01:48:27,919 --> 01:48:31,131
<i>♪ Oh, here I go ♪</i>

1835
01:48:31,214 --> 01:48:34,050
<i>♪ Searching for the answer ♪</i>

1836
01:48:34,134 --> 01:48:38,555
<i>♪ And I'm not gonna stop ♪</i>

1837
01:48:38,638 --> 01:48:41,308
<i>♪ Till I find ♪</i>

1838
01:48:41,391 --> 01:48:44,436
<i>♪ Where it lives inside of me ♪</i>

1839
01:48:44,519 --> 01:48:47,439
<i>♪ How does it come to be? ♪</i>

1840
01:48:47,522 --> 01:48:49,399
<i>♪ Oh ♪</i>

1841
01:48:49,482 --> 01:48:52,694
<i>♪ What should it mean to me? ♪</i>

1842
01:48:52,777 --> 01:48:54,404
<i>♪ Yeah ♪</i>

1843
01:48:54,487 --> 01:48:58,825
<i>♪ Teach me the definition of… ♪</i>

1844
01:48:58,909 --> 01:49:02,329
<i>♪ So, world, ready or not ♪</i>

1845
01:49:02,412 --> 01:49:03,747
<i>♪ Here I go ♪</i>

1846
01:49:03,830 --> 01:49:08,501
<i>♪ Here I go, searching ♪
♪ for the answer ♪</i>

1847
01:49:08,585 --> 01:49:12,714
<i>♪ And I'm not gonna stop ♪</i>

1848
01:49:12,797 --> 01:49:15,800
<i>♪ Till I find ♪</i>

1849
01:49:15,884 --> 01:49:19,012
<i>♪ Where it lives inside me ♪</i>

1850
01:49:19,095 --> 01:49:22,599
<i>♪ How does it come to be? ♪</i>

1851
01:49:22,682 --> 01:49:24,184
<i>♪ How does it ♪
♪ come to be? ♪</i>

1852
01:49:24,267 --> 01:49:26,394
<i>♪ What should it mean to me? ♪</i>

1853
01:49:26,478 --> 01:49:29,064
<i>♪ Tell me what should it mean? ♪</i>

1854
01:49:29,147 --> 01:49:33,610
<i>♪ Teach me the definition ♪</i>

1855
01:49:33,693 --> 01:49:40,116
<i>♪ Of true love. ♪</i>

1856
01:49:43,203 --> 01:49:44,829
[WHISPERS] <i>Thank you.</i>

1857
01:49:47,707 --> 01:49:49,167
[NEW SONG BEGINS]

1858
01:49:49,251 --> 01:49:53,088
<i>♪ I ain't too young to know ♪</i>

1859
01:49:53,171 --> 01:49:57,175
<i>♪ That life has its highs and lows ♪</i>

1860
01:49:57,259 --> 01:50:00,512
<i>♪ And things won't always turn out ♪</i>

1861
01:50:00,595 --> 01:50:03,723
<i>♪ Quite like I think ♪</i>

1862
01:50:05,600 --> 01:50:09,896
<i>♪ And though I have much to learn ♪</i>

1863
01:50:09,980 --> 01:50:13,858
<i>♪ To weather the twists and turns ♪</i>

1864
01:50:13,942 --> 01:50:16,569
<i>♪ I know that I'm capable ♪</i>

1865
01:50:16,653 --> 01:50:20,865
<i>♪ To deal with what life brings me ♪</i>

1866
01:50:20,949 --> 01:50:27,122
<i>♪ I'll show I'm ready to be ♪</i>

1867
01:50:27,205 --> 01:50:29,958
<i>♪ On my own ♪</i>

1868
01:50:31,710 --> 01:50:36,172
<i>♪ Let me spread my wings ♪</i>

1869
01:50:36,256 --> 01:50:40,260
<i>♪ Let me go ♪</i>

1870
01:50:40,343 --> 01:50:44,556
<i>♪ Don't hold so tight ♪</i>

1871
01:50:44,639 --> 01:50:48,435
<i>♪ 'Cause I can fly alone ♪</i>

1872
01:50:48,518 --> 01:50:51,062
<i>♪ I need you to trust me ♪</i>

1873
01:50:51,146 --> 01:50:57,277
<i>♪ Have faith and let me ♪
♪ make it on my own ♪</i>

1874
01:50:57,360 --> 01:51:03,950
<i>♪ Please let me, your baby, go. ♪</i>

1875
01:51:11,374 --> 01:51:13,877
[NEW SONG BEGINS]

1876
01:51:25,221 --> 01:51:29,768
<i>♪ Still so many answers ♪
♪ I don't know ♪</i>

1877
01:51:31,519 --> 01:51:34,939
<i>♪ There are so many answers ♪</i>

1878
01:51:35,023 --> 01:51:37,359
<i>♪ Realize that to question ♪</i>

1879
01:51:37,442 --> 01:51:41,404
<i>♪ Is how we grow ♪</i>

1880
01:51:41,488 --> 01:51:43,656
<i>♪ To question is to grow ♪</i>

1881
01:51:43,740 --> 01:51:48,828
<i>♪ So I step out of the ordinary ♪</i>

1882
01:51:48,912 --> 01:51:52,791
<i>♪ I can feel ♪
♪ my soul ascending ♪</i>

1883
01:51:52,874 --> 01:51:55,085
<i>♪ I'm on my way ♪</i>

1884
01:51:55,168 --> 01:51:58,088
<i>♪ Can't stop me now ♪</i>

1885
01:51:58,171 --> 01:52:02,634
<i>♪ You can do the same, yeah ♪</i>

1886
01:52:02,717 --> 01:52:05,970
<i>♪ What have you done today ♪
♪ to make you feel proud? ♪</i>

1887
01:52:06,054 --> 01:52:08,223
<i>♪ To make you feel proud, yeah ♪</i>

1888
01:52:08,306 --> 01:52:10,350
<i>♪ Let me hear you, let me hear you ♪</i>

1889
01:52:10,433 --> 01:52:11,935
<i>♪ Let me hear you ♪</i>

1890
01:52:12,018 --> 01:52:14,145
<i>♪ So, what have you done today ♪</i>

1891
01:52:14,229 --> 01:52:17,941
<i>♪ To make you feel proud? ♪</i>

1892
01:52:18,024 --> 01:52:20,985
<i>♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪</i>

1893
01:52:21,069 --> 01:52:25,990
<i>♪ 'Cause you could be ♪
♪ so many people ♪</i>

1894
01:52:26,074 --> 01:52:30,286
<i>♪ If you make that grab ♪
♪ for freedom ♪</i>

1895
01:52:30,370 --> 01:52:35,625
<i>♪ So, what have you done today ♪
♪ to make you feel proud? ♪</i>

1896
01:52:35,708 --> 01:52:38,128
<i>♪ What have ♪
♪ you done today? ♪</i>

1897
01:52:38,211 --> 01:52:40,130
<i>♪ Yeah, let me hear you ♪</i>

1898
01:52:40,213 --> 01:52:42,340
<i>♪ What have you done today? ♪</i>

1899
01:52:42,424 --> 01:52:44,926
<i>♪ What have ♪
♪ you done today? ♪</i>

1900
01:52:45,009 --> 01:52:46,803
<i>♪ What have you done today ♪</i>

1901
01:52:46,886 --> 01:52:49,889
<i>♪ To make you feel proud ♪</i>

1902
01:52:49,973 --> 01:52:52,809
<i>♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, ♪
♪ yeah, yeah… ♪</i>