"The John Quincy Adams honor board stands in session." Cory said.
"Case number forty two: Isaiah Babineaux stands accused of boosting somebody's lunch." Lucas said.
"Prove it." Zay said as he ate a sandwich.
"Zay."
"Yo."
"Everybody else in your family seems so decent and kind." Cory said.
"Thank you, Mr. Teach. They say nice things about you, too." Zay said.
"So what happened to you?" Cory asked.
"We're waiting on a lot of results." Zay said.
"Punishment must serve a purpose. What do you guys think will teach Mr. Babineaux here a lesson?" Cory asked.
"Cafeteria duty."
"I don't like it." Zay said.
"Well, I like it. You took everybody's lunch away and now you should give everybody their lunch." Riley said.
"I do give everybody their lunch." Zay said.
"What?"
"He gives roast beefs to the pb and js. He gives meatball subs to the baloneys." Lucas said.
"Huh?"
"Everybody has the right to a delicious lunch. These are my beliefs. Would you attack me on my beliefs?" Zay asked.
"That's not your meatball sub." Riley said.
"—but I believe it's better than my pb and j. So I Robin hooded myself." Zay said.
"You're Robin Hood?"
"I'm Robin lunch." Zay said.
"Cafeteria."
"You can punish me, but the forest people love me." Zay said before he left.
"Bailiff Yogi, will you stop eating the evidence and please open the door for the next case? Thank you." Cory said as Yogi went to answer the door.
"I got this judgey thing down. I got the hang of punishing people and I like it. I think the key to this whole thing is to consider the facts and not get emotionally involved. Precious! What have you done? My buds. Tell me you're just here to pick me up because you're my buds." Riley said after Amzie and Farkle walked in.
"Yeah. Buds. You wanna know what we did or what?" Amzie asked.
"Case number forty three: Amzie Hunter stands accused of cheating off of Farkle Minkus on the last history exam." Lucas said.
"Amzie, is this true?" Riley asked.
"Farkle, how do I answer this?" Amzie asked as she looked at him.
"I'm sorry, Riley. She done did it." Cory said.
"I learn better this way, Matthews. When I see the answers Farkle chooses, it helps me circle the right thing." Amzie said.
"You can't just steal his answers, Amzie." Lucas said.
"Why not? I'm finally learning what you've been trying to teach me. You tried everything and I'm really grateful, but I found a way." Amzie said.
"Farkle, how could you rat out Amzie for cheating off of you?" Riley asked.
"I didn't rat her out. Amzie can do whatever she wants with me." Farkle said.
"I ratted her out." Cory said.
"Why isn't anybody talking about what matters? I got my first A." Amzie said.
"Okay, judgey. You got a solution for this?" Lucas asked as he looked at Riley.
"Yes, I do. I say we give our friends special treatment. Not just any special treatment. We let them completely off the hook. There's no lesson and nobody learns nothing. How about we do one of those this time? See ya next week. Goodnight, everybody!" Riley said.
"We can't just give our friends special treatment." Lucas said.
"I said goodnight, sir!"
"Riles, I accept my punishment. Don't spin out of control." Amzie said.
"We're put under all of this pressure to earn the highest grades. She did it. Amzie learned, Daddy." Riley said.
"She didn't learn, Riley." Cory said.
"Amzie, can you tell them what you learned?" Riley asked.
"I actually can. That's new." Amzie said.
"That's new. It doesn't matter how she learned. It's new." Riley said.
"She cheated! That was loud." Lucas said.
"Cheated is a word. You know what else is a word? Shared. Read a question from the test." Riley said.
"The transcontinental railroad was built from the west and the east in the same time. In which city did the tracks meet?" Lucas asked.
"C."
"Riley, we're not on the same team this time." Lucas said.
"Farkle, are we on the same team?" Riley asked as she looked at him.
"Always."
"Dad?"
"No, I'm with Lucas, Riley. You can't compromise your values just because these are your friends." Cory said.
"Watch me."
"No. Wrong is wrong. She didn't learn anything. If she had learned something, you might have a point." Cory said.
"They drove in the golden spike when the tracks connected at Promontory, Utah." Amzie recited.
"Quick. Make a decision before she says other good stuff." Cory said.
"Louisiana Purchase. Manifest Destiny. C, C, A, D, false, false, true!" Amzie said with a smile.
"She's a stinking genius. Cheating works for her." Riley said.
"No."
"Dad, it's Amzie. You know I'm gonna turn this world upside down until I make this right." Riley said.
"I know you'll try." Cory said.
"Well, I stand with them." Riley said before she went to Amzie and Farkle's side.
"Yay!"
"I don't need this." Cory said.
"Are you now or have you ever been a member of the communist party?" Cory asked.
"The Cold War, sir. Democracy versus Communism. You get what you earn versus everybody gets the same thing." Amzie said.
"Very good, Farkle. I didn't even see your lips move." Cory said.
"Because Amzie answered herself, sir. She remembered the information." Farkle said.
"It only makes sense to me when I can get in trouble for it." Amzie said.
"Wait. So you're telling me that in Communism, everybody shares with everybody else?" Riley asked.
"Yes, Riley. The communist philosophy is that everybody's the same and everybody gets the same thing." Cory said.
"—and it's a party?" Riley asked with a smile.
"I want so desperately to be proud of you." Cory said.
"So you mean when somebody doesn't know something on a test and somebody does, you're supposed to share that information?" Riley asked.
"Yeah. That's Communism, but it's a little more complicated than that. You know the American dream?" Cory asked.
"Yeah."
"Well, this is the other thing. What do you all wanna be when you grow up?" Cory asked.
"I haven't decided yet." Riley said.
"I see you as a factory worker." Cory said.
"Well, what if I don't wanna be—?" Riley started.
"I wanna be a factory worker." Amzie said.
"I see you as a potato farmer." Cory said.
"—but I prefer the warmth of the factory." Amzie said.
"Can I still take over the world?" Farkle asked.
"You sure can. Just as long as everybody can take over the world with you." Cory said.
"I'm not taking over the world with factory girl and potato head." Farkle said.
"Your individual goals don't matter. You're one of many. There are no social classes. Nobody's more or less successful than anybody else. That's Communism." Cory said.
"That's Communism? I thought it was when they scared the demons out of you." Zay said.
"That's exorcism."
"Oh yeah. That's the one I had." Zay said.
"He's kidding."
"Yeah, I'm kidding. It didn't work. Anyway, whoever I am, I'm not down with Communism." Zay said.
"Sure you are. You're Robin Hood. Take from the rich. Give to the poor." Amzie said.
"Did you guys hear that? Did you hear what Amzie just said? She actually gets this stuff. Amzie, you really did learn something. Doesn't this make you wanna study by yourself?" Cory asked.
"No, it makes me wanna cheat off of everybody equally." Amzie said.
"Yeah. Why should we be in competition with each other? Why should we be motivated by report cards? Why shouldn't we all help each other out to know exactly the same thing?" Riley asked.
"Riley, look at this and choose your next words very carefully." Cory said after he walked over to the flag.
"Comrades!" Riley said after she stood up.
"I pledge allegiance—!" Cory started.
"Comrades of John Quincy Adams unite!" Riley said.
"Lightning!"
"Thunder!"
"Darkness!"
"Bunny rabbits!"
"From each according to his ability—" Amzie started.
"—to each according to his need!" Riley finished.
"Whoa! We're commies. It worked! Yay!" Amzie and Riley said before they hugged each other.
"Anything interesting happen at school today?" Topanga asked.
"Nothing out of the ordinary." Cory said.
"Wanna explain Riley's outfit?" Topanga asked.
"Oh yeah. She's a commie now. Can you pass the potatoes?" Cory asked.
"Thank goodness. I thought she was a mime." Topanga said as she handed the potatoes to Cory.
"Amzie cheated off of Farkle and all of a sudden, she knows stuff." Riley said.
"So you're a communist?" Topanga asked.
"Yeah."
"Do I need to know the middle of the story?" Topanga asked as she looked at Cory.
"You wanna be proud of her?" Cory asked.
"Yeah."
"Then no."
"Honey, Z doesn't know stuff if she cheated off of Farkle." Topanga said.
"Mom, you can't crush my hopes for her. In the words of the president of Communism, you may say hey, hey I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the—but I'm not the—" Riley started.
"Sh. Go to sleep, Riley." Cory said.
"Riley, John Lennon was a Beatle." Topanga said.
"Mom, just because his beliefs are different than yours does not mean you get to call him a bug!" Riley said.
"Teacher of the year!" Topanga said as she looked at Cory.
"Look what I'm working with!" Cory said as he gestured to his daughter.
"Does the rest of the honor board share your position on this?" Topanga asked as she looked at Riley.
"No. Amzie and Farkle are going on trial tomorrow. They're gonna need somebody really good to represent them because when something's this important, you need the best possible—" Riley started.
"—piano player?" Auggie asked.
"—lawyer."
"Well, that's it then."
"Riley, you're not gonna find a lawyer to defeat democracy. Not even if you found some hypercompetitive freak of nature super lawyer. Okay. I'm sorry you had to see this. Let's go." Cory said before he picked the flag up and left.
"The purpose of this Honor Board hearing is to determine the guilt or innocence of Amzie Hunter and Farkle Minkus, who stand accused of sharing information during an exam. We'll begin the questioning with Lucas Friar." Cory said.
"Thank you. Ms. Hunter, Mr. Minkus, are you now or have you ever been a cheater?" Lucas asked.
"Objection."
"You're on our side." Lucas said as he looked at Riley.
"—but who's on their side? What kind of system is it where people are—?" Riley started.
"—judged by—?"
"—other people."
"—like a jury?"
"—who are students like them." Riley said.
"—a jury of their peers?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah, what do you call that?" Riley asked.
"—the justice system."
"You and your answers. Well, I guess I don't have anymore moves, do I? By the way, defense calls my mommy." Riley said before Topanga walked in.
"I win."
"Topanga!"
"Honey, you can't just come in here and interrupt our very formal procedure. This is the highest court of the John Quincy Adams Middle School legal system and we take our proceedings very seriously!" Cory said before he hit the toy mallet.
"Alright. Everybody sit where you would normally sit. What I'm interested in is how Amzie could've cheated off of Farkle all by herself in the first place. Because as you can see by the configuration of the desks, it would be impossible for Amzie to see Farkle's paper from that distance unless she had some help. Mr. Matthews." Topanga said as she looked at him.
"Yes, darling?"
"What is it you do while they take their tests?" Topanga asked.
"Who? Me? I sit here. I get sad. I think about the way things could've been." Cory said.
"Cory!"
"I'm up here! I read a book because I trust them." Cory said.
"Uh huh. Interesting. What happens next?" Topanga asked.
"Well, I look at the first question of the test, then I make this kind of face. Then I look at Riley who's all like—" Amzie started as she looked at her brunette best friend.
"—ladadada."
"Then I look at Farkle who's all like—" Amzie started before she looked at her other best friend.
"—done!"
"—but for the first time ever, I might've looked at Farkle like. Farkle kind of might've went—" Amzie started before Farkle held his notebook like he did during the test.
"Interesting, but from this angle, there's still something blocking your view." Topanga said.
"Yes. So it's possible Riley might've went—" Amzie started before Riley leaned forward.
"Well, we knew that Farkle was an accomplice." Lucas said.
"I'll do anything for my friends. I accept my punishment." Farkle said.
"—but I think that Mrs. Matthews just proved that he was not alone." Lucas said.
"Yeah, my work here is done." Topanga said.
"Case number forty four."
"Oh boy."
"Riley."
"I was kind of an accomplice, too." Riley said.
"Riley, how could you?" Topanga asked.
"Farkle put himself in jeopardy for Amzie." Riley said.
"How could I not?" Farkle asked.
"I thought maybe if Farkle shared his knowledge with Amzie and she got a good grade, she might wanna keep on learning and she does, so if that makes us communists, then I guess that's what we really are." Riley said.
"Yeah? Well, you certainly look like you're all in the same little group now." Cory said.
"So what if maybe we dress a little bit alike?" Riley asked.
"Maybe some of my study methods have rubbed off on her." Farkle said.
"You know Farkle's methods? Dad, what's going on here?" Riley asked.
"It's just what you wanted, Riley. Communism. Farkle sharing his knowledge with Amzie." Cory said.
"Karl Marx: the father of communism. Vladimir Lenin led the revolution." Amzie said as she changed the pins on hers and Riley's ties.
"These guys don't seem anywhere near as much fun as the other guys." Riley said.
"Yeah, well, maybe that's because the other guys—John Lennon and Groucho Marx—were two incredibly talented—what? Amzie?" Cory asked as he looked at her.
"Individuals, sir. The point you're trying to make is that a free society breeds individuals." Amzie said.
"How do you feel you're developing as an individual?" Cory asked.
"Amzie, why don't you sound like you?" Riley asked.
"What do you mean? Who would I sound like besides me? I'm still me, Riley. I've always been me and I'll never be anybody else but me. Ha!" Amzie said.
"Ha!"
"Huh."
"Okay, what's this?" Cory asked after he walked into class to see Riley, Amzie, and Farkle sitting together with a box surrounding them.
"We're putting up a wall to protect ourselves from them." Lucas said.
"Don't you think that's a little extreme?" Cory asked.
"It's the judgment of the honor board to separate those who cheat—" Lucas started.
"—share! Hey! We all said that at the same time! I'm hungry. What is happening to us? Whoa." Riley, Amzie, and Farkle said after they looked at each other.
"We don't wanna become like them. We'd rather remain a free society of individuals." Lucas said.
"—instead of whatever the heck that was." Zay said.
"—but isn't the best part of a free society the fact that it allows its people to consider all beliefs?" Cory asked.
"Yeah, but I want my friends back, Mr. Matthews. Can you fix this?" Lucas asked.
"I graded your recent exams. Mr. Friar, one hundred percent. You get an A. Mr. Babineaux, one hundred percent. You get an A. Ms. Hunter, Ms. Matthews, Farkle, one hundred percent. You get a C." Cory said after Zay and Lucas sat down.
"What?"
"We get a what's that you say now?" Farkle asked.
"How'd we get a hundred percent and get a C?" Amzie asked.
"Because when you get everything right, but you don't do it yourselves, it makes you average. A divided by three is a C. Look at you. You're all the same. You're average. You're common." Cory said.
"Commonism. This is why it fell? People didn't wanna all be the same?" Riley asked.
"Without incentive, there's no motivation. Without motivation, there's no advancement. In a truly free society, we share the best parts of ourselves without cheating. Because we get to learn who we are individually." Cory said.
"Come on, guys. Separately, you're the best individuals I know. I miss you. Please come back." Lucas said.
"Amzie?"
"Yeah. I think I'd like it better if I was doing well because I was doing well." Amzie said after she stood up.
"—but now you're not me." Farkle said after Amzie took her hat and jacket off.
"There's only one of you, Farkle. There's only one of all of us." Amzie said.
"It's better that way, isn't it?" Farkle asked before he stood up and took his hat and jacket off.
"We were founded on the concept of welcoming all people from all different parts of the world and encouraging each of them to find out who they are." Cory said.
"Why?"
"Because the individual is valued here." Cory said.
"Yeah, that's pretty good." Riley said before she copied her friends.
"There you are! Welcome back, guys." Lucas said after he and Zay stood up.
"Riley? I'm proud of you. Mr. Friar, tear down this wall!" Cory said before they pulled the wall apart.