Monologue - Prodigal Son

And more than that, a grown person decided I was good before I was good.

And you wanna throw me out of that?

Why do I have to listen to you when you have zero to say?

Because I'm young? All my life I've been young, so I never get a turn.

This school is lost if you ask me, you're lost.

But everybody talks to me like I'm the one. I should change. Why should I change?

And this, this school? Has been a miracle for me.

But not because of you. Because somebody, Mr Hoffman, finally saw me.

I'm not gonna cry.

I'm gonna find my place in this world, count on it.

Then you know what I say?

I've never met your God and I don't want to.

What the hell is that? Original sin or something?

I've read Plato. I read Plato on a park bench in the Bronx and let me tell you something.

I have to earn your respect but you don't have to earn mine? What is that?

It's you that wants the A before you even start but when I say the same thing I'm nuts, right?

What about you? Why don't you have to explain yourself?

Right. Because it's your school and I'm the student on trial.

Plato wasn't afraid. Diogenes wasn't afraid. Socrates wasn't afraid. They were men.

Why are you the headmaster and I'm the student, you understand?

Why is it your school? Huh?

Why am I always in the wrong?

I've never even gotten to find out who I am and you want me to change? That's crazy!

You tell me I'm bad before I even get to be anything.