My So-Called Life (1994–1995)

Jeff Perry: Richard Katimski

Photos 

Quotes 

• Richard Katimski : [reading to the class]  "My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun. Coral is far more red than her lips' red. If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun. If hair be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damas red and white, but no such roses see I in her cheeks. And some perfumes is there more delight than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound. I grant I never saw a Goddess go. My mistress when she walks treads on the ground, and yet, by Heaven, I think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare." What kind of a girl is Shakespeare describing here? Is she the most beautiful girl?

  Brian : No.

  Richard Katimski : Is she a Goddess? Physically perfect? The kind of girl who stops traffic when she walks down the street?

  Brian : No.

  Richard Katimski : So he's not in love with her?

  Jordan : Yeah. He is.

  Richard Katimski : And why is that? Why is he in love with her? What is it about her?

  Brian : That she's not just a fantasy. She's got, like, flaws. She's real.

  Richard Katimski : Thank you.

• Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : Could I speak to you before class about The Odyssey?

  Richard Katimski : Of course! If you wanna take that donut off my hands, by the way, be my guest. I gave up coffee for New Years and that's kinda taken the point out of donuts. What's up?

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : You know that essay that I never handed in? About what Odysseus wants. Uh, can I get an extension?

  Richard Katimski : Okay?

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : Because I read it. It's about this lonely guy that wanders the world for, like, many years. Right?

  Richard Katimski : Right.

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : And the way that it starts, like, in the middle. What's that called again? I know you told us.

  Richard Katimski : In medias res. In the middle of things.

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : Right. Because, see... um... Right now it's sort of, like, I don't have a place to live.

  Richard Katimski : But... I mean, what happened?

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : But, it's okay. It's gonna be fine. I was staying at my friend Angela's house for a while, and they're really nice. They're this really great family, but in a way that made me feel lonelier. And I know that sounds ungrateful.

  Richard Katimski : No, no, I understand.

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : And see, my uncle... I was living with my aunt and uncle because... it's sort of a long story.

• Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : Why are you doing this?

  Richard Katimski : Pardon?

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : This is not something I'm going to do. I'm just not the type of person who joins things. Okay?

  Richard Katimski : I'm really sorry, but no. That's not okay. Come on, I'm a teacher. How do you expect me to react to a ridiculous statement like that. You don't join things? Who are you, Groucho Marx? You never belonged to a club that would have you as a member?

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : What?

  Richard Katimski : Look, what is holding you back? I'm not cool enough? Don't let the fact that your English teacher is a dork stop you from fulfilling your potential!

  [pauses] 

  Richard Katimski : Just pretend that I'm a track coach. I happened to notice you can run fast. I need you on my team. It's as simple as that, Enrique.

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : Stop calling me that! Why are you calling me that?

  Richard Katimski : I'm sorry, I keep forgetting. It's just... oh, gee whiz. It's such a great name. When I was in high school I hated my name. I hated it.

  Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez : I don't hate my name. I just

  Richard Katimski : [interrupts]  Oh good. Really glad. But nobody should hate who they are.

• Richard Katimski : Would you be interested in joining drama club?

  Rayanne : Would it get me out of anything?

  Richard Katimski : I doubt it.