Goodbye, Mr. Caine

Trivia Contributor
It's silly when they have Kermit's office double for Strenlich's. Are we supposed to believe that he has his own office and that he wasn't in Kermit's office for that scene? Monica Sztybel
In the scene where Caine gives the speech to the students, when Peter and Caine take out Mackie and his band of obnoxious kids, the distant shot of the students applauding shows Cam clapping as well. While in the close up, he's not clapping.
 Monica Sztybel
Script differencese  
In the script, Act One shows Peter playing three-on-three pickup basketball in the precinct gym with Chin (on the opposing team). Chin and Peter collide and Peter calls foul. Chin calls it a charge. Peter protests, saying he beat Chin. Chin complains that Peter lowered his shoulder. Peter is still holding the ball. When Chin asks him for it, Peter says, "Uh-uh."

Chin: "You always play like this, Caine?"

Peter has a flashback to the temple, but he's not in temple clothes. He's weaing a baseball cap over his bald head, and he's playing basketball with the town kids. He is struggling to take the ball from another kid.

Young Peter: "Come on, come on. Give me the ball back."
Kid: (grabs the ball) "Forget it! You tripped me. That's a foul."
Young Peter: "I was just playing."
Kid: "Yeah, well, why don't you go play somewhere else? This is supposed to be a non-contact sport." (to his friends) "Let's get out of here. We don't need this creep."
Young Peter: "Look, I'm sorry. Guys...?"

They leave him behind. Dejected, he starts walking off court when he sees Caine. "Busted." He walks over to his father.

Young Peter: "How did you know I was here?"
Caine: "I found the Dr. J poster you hid under your bed. It must be an exhilarating feeling..."
Peter looks at his dad. Confused. After all, he's not getting the expected reprimand.
Young Peter: "What is...?"
Caine: "The sensation of taking off into space, soaring high above the rim before throwing the ball through the net.
Young Peter's confusion grows.
Young Peter: "Father...I can't dunk."
Caine: "I know that. Perhaps one day you will."
Young Peter: "I don't think so."
Caine: "To do so, you must have a clarity about the game. Any game. Play for the sheer exhilaration of the exercise -- not as a vehicle for ridding yourself of hostility or aggression. For then, the vehicle drives you..." (beat; rises) "Come, let us return to the Temple."
Young Peter unsteadily rises. Walks with his father. A beat:
Young Peter: "Father, I'm sorry I came into town without telling you. Am I in trouble?"
Caine yanks off Peter's cap.
Caine: "Time will tell."

Back in the present, Peter throws the ball to Chin and says, "Sorry, Roger. Good call." The play continues until Jody interrupts, calling out Peter's name.

Jody: "Strenlich wants to see you."
Peter: "Now?"
Jody: "Now."
Peter: "I'll just grab a shower."
Jody: "I don't think so."
She holds the door open for him as Peter heads for the exit. She mutters under her breath.
Jody: "Jocks. I could take you all..."
 Monica Sztybel
There is a whole scene between Peter and Principle Lake that happens as they are walking to Caine's assembly (before Peter knows it's Caine, of course). Lake is doing most of the talking, so rather than write it out, I'll summarize:

Peter tells him that he thinks Kam is the best person to get to Mackie. Lake disagrees, saying that Kam was around when the cop was stabbed. Peter claims that Kam didn't do it, but Lake doesn't believe him. Peter insists that Kam's life revolves around the game and if he can get Kam to stand up against Mackie, the rest of the school will too. Lake calls Peter "hopelessly optimistic."

Lake reminisces about how the school once was and how it's changed. Peter says, "Sure it did...but maybe you changed too." Lake denies it. He doesn't think that anyone can make a difference anymore. Peter says, "I don't know that I can. I know I have to try." Lake is jaded. Tells Peter to just do his time, fill out a report and leave. He comments that the school isn't about teaching but surviving. Peter says, "Then why don't you just retire?" Lake said he thought about it, then adds that he's probably deluding himself. Peter doesn't think so.

The bell rings. Lake tells Peter, "Come on."

Peter: "Where? I have a free period."
Lake: "No, you don't. I've instituted a new intervention program."
Peter: "Hey, you do care..."

When Peter walks into the assembly and says, "Pop!", Lake hears him and asks, "You know this man." Peter nods.


During Caine's speech, Peter watches in disbelief, not sure his father can reach these kids.

When the fight breaks out, Peter turns to Lake and says, "Excuse me..."

Lake: "Where are you going?"
Peter: "Teacher's aide kinda thing..."
 Monica Sztybel
After Sara Dockery tells Lake that she's taking her resume to another school, there's a private scene between her and Peter.

Sara: "Perhaps under other circumstances..." (turns to go)
Peter: "Sara. There _are_ other circumstances. I'm a cop."
Sara: "Then at least someone is in the right place..."

She leaves.
 Monica Sztybel
Before the game, as the teams are warming up and the spectators arrive, Mackie arrives and Peter talks to him.

Peter: "Hey, Mackie..." (Mackie turns around) "You know what happened today?"
Mackie: "I gotta "D" in remedial English."
Peter gestures to the stands filled with kids.
Peter: "They woke up. You're going to lose them. Time to get out."
Mackie stares at him venomously. Then strangely smiles.
Mackie: "We'll see who loses what..."

When Kam walks up to Peter in the lockerroom to fess up about Mackie, they hear the fight and Peter reacts.

Peter: "Excuse me, Kam. Hold that thought."

And leaves.
 Monica Sztybel
In the tag, it's Caine that says that Peter has one more thing he must do, then produces a basketball. Peter tries to dunk it twice, and fails. Then they have Caine do it like he did in the episode.
 Monica Sztybel