The Honor Roll: Episode 21. Season Premiere: The New School Year

    A school year's passed at Waters Elementary since the passing of Waters Elementary's longest tenured teacher, Pat Barker who passed away, and for the past year, various teachers has filled her classroom, as The Caswell County Board of Education's looked for the perfect replacement. As some things change in Caswellton, and within the school, some also doesn't change, old rivalries still flare, but the mission of many on the staff, and not, are to look out for their students, among other things, as a new school season begins, and now we head to Caswellton, and pick up The Honor Roll, one year later.

     It's a day before the new school year at Waters Elementary, and inside Thomas' office, Thomas and Dwight drink a cup of coffee, as Dwight tells him "This year will be interesting. A new Special Ed class, my Grandson moving here." Thomas quips "Sounds like you have your hands full. Now there won't be any bias now will there?" Dwight tells Thomas "My three children went here, and if they misbehaved, off to ISS, and I also taught them when they reached my grade, when Pat and I were both teaching Fifth Grade." Thomas sighs "It's growing. And Mama's staying on for another year. I guess Maura staying changed her mind." Dwight laughs "Wild horses won't drive who Winnie calls "The Warden" out of here. Now let's talk about something else, when are you going to start dating Missy?" Thomas is silent, and goes "I don't know. We've went out for dinner, but I just can't commit." Dwight tells him "It's been three years since you lost Valerie and T.J...." Thomas responds in a serious tone "Look, let's focus on this new school year, and I will worry about my love life!" Dwight goes "Well most of the staff's down at The Courthouse Inn. Want to go?" Thomas tells Dwight "I'm staying here and do some more catching up, and meet the new teachers." Dwight heads to the door, as he tells Thomas "You may hear me say this a lot, but I'm honored to be your Assistant here, and now with Erica being promoted to the third Assistant.." Thomas reminds him "She's now Anna's assistant, but still working here as Lead Teacher of Special Ed." Dwight rolls his eyes, and goes "That's right. Have the earplugs ready, because someone will not be pleased." Thomas quips "And Maura can go crazy and join Snowball in Milledgeville. It's the closest place to hell from here. She's fit in nicely." Dwight walks out, as Thomas reads a resume, and goes "Cousin Susan's working here? And my Aunt Jean as Assistant?" Thomas makes a phone call to his Father, and gets no answer, as Bill's trailer's empty, with his cell phone sitting by his chair. Back at Waters Elementary, Thomas looks up, and goes "I have a feeling this year's going to be wild."
    At The Courthouse Inn, the faculty and the staff are there, as Eliza throws a party for the staff, as Alice, Effie, Winnie, Missy, Mary, Judy, Anna, Corey, and Erica are there, as Eliza tells them "Notice somebody didn't show up. I didn't invite the bitch." Didi meanwhile works, as she waits on her co-workers, as Alice asks Eliza "So where's Thomas? Didn't you invite him?" Eliza smiles "My sweet Son will be here when he stops working so hard. And I just wonder where's Bill and his fat friend." Erica tells everyone "Well since I'm working as Anna's assistant, I want to make one thing very much clear, if I even hear one word that Snowball and Maura's back together, or Maura's going to Milledgeville, I will have her teaching license revoked! I am excited about Ms. Jones joining the staff, and..." Eliza asks "Susan Jones?" Erica nods, as Alice asks "Isn't she Bill's Niece?" Eliza goes "Yes, and she has lived abroad for many years, but apparently she's back in town, and in other news..." Everyone's silent, as Anna goes "Decided to step down from spying on Maura?" Eliza sighs "Yes, I am going to step away. The bitch learned last year not to piss me off. But her new Assistant works for me." Eliza yells "Hey April, come out here and get working!" April Davis, a waitress at The Courthouse Inn, walks out of the kitchen, as she tells her boss "I was on a smoke break." Winnie quips "Yes! I have someone to smoke with on my breaks." Corey meanwhile tells everyone "I have spoke to Anna, and I have proposed that no staff member can smoke at the school." Winnie glares at Corey, as she snaps "Who in the hell gives you the right to tell me I can't sit in my car and have a damn cigarette when it's my break and Judy's watching my class? I don't like you." Anna whispers to Corey "You may want to just turn the other way. This isn't Atlanta." Erica meanwhile sarcastically tells Corey "You already turning into another Snowball!" Corey yells "Damnit cut me a break! I'm only trying to do what's right." Erica snaps "If you wanted to do something right, you'd quit, and move on since you're related to Snowball!" Meanwhile Eliza walks behind the counter, as Erica and Corey argue, as she calls Bill, and gets his voicemail, and tells her Ex-Husband "Mary's here, and we're missing you and your fat twin." Outside in Bill's yard, Bill yells "Peanut? Where are you at?" Bill walks up to the edge of the road, and yells "Oh No.", as Peanut's been hit by a car, and Bill bends down and goes "Buddy, are you with me?" Peanut's eyes looks at him, as Bill gently picks him up, and as he rushes back to his truck, a car pulls inside, as Bill yells "I ain't got no damn time for witnesses!" Bill's Oldest Sister, Jean Jones, walks out, and notices Peanut, and tells her Brother "Get in, and I'll go with you." Bill gets in the car, as he hands Peanut to his Sister, and takes the wheel, as he tells her "You never could drive fast." Jean sighs "Oh shit." Bill speeds to the vet in Caswellton, as Jean cradles Peanut.
    Back at Waters Elementary, Thomas sits inside his office, as Maura walks inside, and snarls "This year is 27 years Thomas! 27 years I've dedicated my life to Caswell..." Thomas sighs with disgust "Shut the hell up. The only thing you dedicated yourself to was checks from Ken and Trish and sending kids to The Graveyard. Maybe I'll be lucky and Erica will fire your ass out of here this year since she's helping Anna." Maura warns Thomas "And another thing Thomas, I don't support you seeing my Daughter since you're crazy. And your Mama..." Thomas snaps "What in the hell did you say? Did you call my crazy? Bitch let me get something straight with you right now. If Missy and I want to see each other, then stay the hell out of it. She's the best thing you ever gave the world, and I tolerated a lot of shit from you, and lost a lot, but damnit I'll go to the board my damn self if you call me crazy, or I'll call my Mama and..." Eliza walks inside, as she has overheard, and grabs Maura and asks "Did you call my boy crazy?" Maura rolls her eyes, and goes "Mommy to save the day." Eliza slaps Maura, and warns her "I'm not working in your class bitch to keep you in check, but if I hear anything about you trying to hurt Thomas, or Missy for that matter, your ass is mine! You'll be joining Snowball!" Thomas tells Maura "Now get out. The new teachers are about to arrive, and one will be teaching Special Ed, and may replace you." Maura snaps "Nothing will make me leave. I'm getting my pension." Eliza snarks "Kiss Ken and Trish's asses and maybe they'll take you on at The Graveyard...that's right, they cut you off." Maura storms out, as Susan Jones, and the new Fifth Grade Teacher, Jacob Cobain sits in the Secretary's office, as Maura warns them "I'd find another place to work if I were you, and regardless of what Erica Elliott will say, I'm the damn boss here of Special Ed!" Susan smiles, and laughs "You're funny. And mess with me, and you'll be dealing with my Mama, who's Bill Duncan's Sister." Maura screams as she walks out into the hallway "SHIT!" Back in Thomas' office, Eliza tells her Son "I have a plan with Maura. Her new Assistant works for me at the Inn, and I'm going to talk to her about being a spy." Thomas tells his Mother "Nice thinking." Eliza changes subjects, and asks Thomas "Where's Bill?" Thomas goes "I hadn't heard anything Mama." Eliza sighs "I hate to admit it, but I worry about him. He didn't come down to the luncheon, and he never turned down my cooking, unless he found another woman. I'll kick her ass. Money talks in small towns..." Thomas assures his Mother "He may be plowing my field. Or asleep. Don't get into a frenzy." Eliza sighs, and Thomas smiles "You still love him don't you Mama?" Eliza heads to the door, and whispers "Our little secret." Eliza leaves as Susan goes "Aunt Eliza?" Eliza hugs Susan, and tells her "Thomas is in his office, and you look great." Susan laughs "Living in California and working out does wonders." Eliza goes "Best of luck sweetie." Eliza leaves, as Susan and Jacob walks into Thomas' office, as Jacob tells Susan "I don't know about this place." Susan quips "It'll be alright. My family's here, and none of them take any shit."
    Back at The Courthouse Inn, Dwight arrives, as Alice asks him "Did you meet the new staff members?" Dwight nods, and tells Alice, Effie, Winnie, Erica, Didi, Judy, Missy, Mary, Corey, and Anna "I did, and I think they will be fine additions, and I ran into someone while I was parking my Motorcycle who'll be Effie's Assistant this year." Connie Adams walks inside, as the staff welcomes her, as Connie tells everyone "I got bored with just driving the bus. So it'll be nice to be back working again." Didi asks meanwhile "So since we're getting assistants, how about me? It's a lot to keep up with in the Media Center." Dwight reminds her "This year we'll be moving Fifth Grade back into Pat's old classroom, and Mr. Cobain will be excellent. He is in his 30s, and like Pat, started late in the teaching profession." Winnie yells "I don't think nobody's worthy of sitting at my dear friends old desk! Make that room a memoriam for her instead." Effie tells Winnie, as does the rest of the staff "She'd want us to move on Winnie." Anna tells them "Her family's getting her things today, and then Jacob will start moving in. He mentioned keeping her old desk." Winnie snaps "He can have mine! I'll take hers." Judy turns to Winnie, and goes "I think it should be mine. I worked with Pat for the past 20 years." Winnie goes "Ok Judy, and it'll be in MY room." Judy quips "I hope I don't end up calling you warden." Winnie smiles "No Judy. Ms. Johnson's just fine." Missy's phone rings, as she tells everyone "It's her. I need to go." Missy leaves, with dread, as Dwight tells everyone "I have an idea. Let's visit Pat's room one more time before Mr. Cobain takes over, and we'll pay tribute to her, and name it the "Pat Barker Room"." Everyone nods in agreement, as they head back to Waters Elementary.
    Back at Waters Elementary, Thomas walks through the halls with his Cousin, Susan, and the newest teacher to the staff, Jacob, as Susan tells her Cousin "I thought it would be good for my Mama to help me, and we'd be able to spend time together, and she'd have something to do, and keep Uncle Bill in check." Thomas rolls his eyes, as he sighs "This is going to be a wild year ahead." Susan assures him "It'll be ok. And I didn't like that Maura Carson at all. She's a bitch." Jacob asks Thomas "How does she keep a job?" Thomas responds "One of the unsolved mysteries of Caswellton." Meanwhile at Bill's trailer, Bill and his Sister, Jean returns, as Eliza walks out of the front door, and yells at her Ex-Husband "Where in the hell were you at?" Bill is crying, as Jean looks at her former Sister In Law, and Bill cries "I drove as fast as I could, and..." Eliza asks "What's wrong Bill?" Jean tells her "Peanut was hit by a car, and died at the vet's office." Eliza hugs Bill, as Bill goes "He was my best friend. My riding partner on my bus, my dinner buddy, kept my bed warm for me and my recliner. I'm going to miss him." Jean tells her Brother "It'll be alright. Take a few days, and mourn, and when school's back in session, you will be ok, and I'll be at the school every day." Bill cries louder, as he goes "Eliza's paying you isn't she?" Eliza goes "Only to keep an eye on Maura." Jean, confused, goes "You're paying me?" Eliza responds with a smile "I want as many spies as possible to keep a check on that bitch." Meanwhile a car stops on the side of the road, and a man gets out, and puts a Chihuahua puppy on the ground, and drives away, as Jean gasps "How horrible. What a bastard!" Eliza is shocked, as Bill turns, and walks up to the puppy, as it's young, and it cries, and Bill picks the puppy up, and tells his Ex-Wife and Sister "It's a girl, and she's a runt." Jean asks "Well Bill are you keeping it?" Bill asks the puppy "Well, want me to be your Daddy?" The puppy pees in his hand, and Bill laughs "I'm naming her "Little Girl"." Jean looks at her Brother, and quips "That's the best you can do?" Eliza walks away, as her phone rings, as Bill asks his Sister "Ok Bossy, what are your suggestions?" Jean looks at the puppy, and tells her Brother "Scarlet." Bill looks at the hernia on the puppy's stomach, and asks the puppy "Do you wanna be called Scarlet?" The puppy licks him, and he puts Scarlet into his shirt pocket, as he looks up and says "Thank you Peanut." Inside Eliza's Mercedes, Eliza speaks to April, as she's in Maura's classroom, and Eliza tells her employee "Don't give no hints you're working for me. If you are successful. I'll make sure your kids go to college. If not, you'll be back at WhiteTail trailer park!" Back at Waters Elementary, the staff has arrived, with the exception of Missy, as Marian walks down the hall, as Thomas meets with everyone, and introduces them to Susan and Jacob, as Alice tells Thomas "Before we start another year, Dwight had a wonderful idea." Alice tells it to Thomas, as Corey and Jacob both tell Alice, Thomas, and Dwight "I don't think it's wise to have a prayer at public school." Winnie looks at them, as does the rest of the staff, and they all go "Shut up!", as they walk down the hall, and Anna unlocks the door to Pat's classroom, left as it was when she passed away in there a little over a year earlier, and Jacob asks Anna "Would you mind it if I left this room the way she had it. I just feel weird being in here." Anna looks at him, as Pat's Granddaughter walks inside, and goes "My Grandma wouldn't mind one bit." Mary runs up the hall, as Winnie looks at Judy, as they nod, and Jacob asks "Feel like someone else is in here?" Everyone nods, as Pat's Granddaughter goes "She loved teaching. She never changed anything. I can still see her old smoke stains on the ceiling and the walls from years ago." All are silent, as they reflect, as Mary returns with a huge portrait of Pat's school photo from 35 years earlier, and Pat's Granddaughter looks at Judy, as Mary hands it to her, and Judy hangs the portrait over the marker board, and Thomas hands Jacob his title, and he puts it in his pocket, as he tells everyone "This will always be Pat Barker's Room, and I am honored to be here." Alice leads everyone in prayer, as Pat's spirit watches on with a smile, and goes "Everything's going to be alright here." Pat's spirit walks out of the classroom, as the faculty and staff of Waters Elementary, along with Pat's Granddaughter prays together, as Pat hums to herself, as her spirit slowly disappears into the halls of Waters Elementary.