GUEST: Retired 4th Grade Teacher Maureen Lavettre Roeland

Elsie walks out of the room, carrying the disconnected company phone. Jim and Homer watch her leave. The boys look at each other.

Elsie stands on the front porch and tosses the company phone onto the front lawn.

Later, in Principal Turner’s office, Homer is handed papers to withdraw from school.

“Here you are,” says the school secretary to Principal Turner.

“Thank you,” says Turner. He places the papers in front of Homer, along with a pen.

“Mining coal is an honorable trade, Mr. Hickam,” says Turner. “Nothing to be ashamed of.” Homer looks at Turner, then signs the papers.

Later, Homer empties his school locker, and spies Miss Riley in the hallway.

“Miss Riley! Miss Riley!” shouts Homer, chasing after her.

Miss Riley never looks back, and heads for the exit.

Homer stands at the top of the school stairs. The stairs are marked with the slogan:

OWL COUNTRY
CATCH
OWL
FEVER
IT’S
CONTAGIOUS
ACADEMICS
EXCELLENCE
QUALITY
TRADITION

The scene fades to the next morning. Homer is awakened by his alarm clock.

In This Episode

• Jake Gyllenhall as Homer Hickam
• Scott Thomas as Jim Hickam
• Natalie Canerday as Elsie Hickam
• Chris Ellis as Principal Turner
• Laura Dern as Miss Riley