Nancy McKeon credited as playing...
Jo Polniaczek
- Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey: [about Gail] She must be so scared.
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: I'll tell you what's scary. What's scary is living and not having it mean anything.
- Edna Garrett: Is that what you think's happened to Gail?
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: She spent her whole life, working and studying, trying to make something of herself. What's the point if it can be taken away from you at 26? What's the difference?
- Edna Garrett: You are, you, and everyone who's ever been in her class. Someone can live to be 80 years old, have nothing to show for it. Gail has you.
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: She should have more time!
- Edna Garrett: I know.
- Edna Garrett: Tootie, maybe you better get back to bed.
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: No, Mrs. Garrett, she wants to know what's going on? I'll tell her. Gail's not going to another school, Tootie, she's going to a hospital and she's not coming out, do you understand?
- Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey: I don't... Mrs. Garrett, what's...
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: You wanted to know what's going on, now you know.
- Edna Garrett: Jo, I know how difficult it is to lose somebody you care about. But like it or not, you're going to have to try to face it.
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: I am facing it.
- Edna Garrett: How? By cutting Gail's classes? Standing her up? You can run as far as you want, but Gail is still going to die.
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: Kind of neighborhoods we grew up on, you took your chances just stepping outside the door. But she got out! She made it and now this!
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: [to Tootie] You wanna know what's bothering me? She's five foot two,
- [gestures]
- Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek: kinda sweet, but kind of a pest!