Henry Barthes/Synopsis

The story of Henry Barthes in .
==Biography==
Henry Barthes once lived a happy life and was raised by his mother Patricia and his grandfather Grampa. Both he and Patricia did regular childhood activities such as making snowmen, adventure through cities with a bus, and many more, until the age of seven, where his story went tragic. Patricia committed suicide in front of him when he was seven, and Grampa went erratic in the heat of the moment. He and Grampa later sat down on the porch as they watched her corpse be taken away. As showcased in Barthes' flashbacks, Patricia smoked and was burnt out prior to her passing. Moments before her death, she ensured Barthes to close the door on her at night for his protection in her own terms. It was implied by Barthes that his grandfather had sexually abused Patricia to the point where she overdosed, but noted that he never felt unsafe around them.
===First Day===
Decades later, Barthes wrote poetry in his apartment complex describing his past pain. He became a high-school substitute teacher who took the bus to reach a struggling public school in desperate need for revival. Arriving towards principal Carol Dearden of the school, she gave a one-month assignment for him to teach a class of students in English 11A. With the school's worst reputation on student behavior, he arrived to class composed and collected, and reassured that attendance is not mandatory if anyone doesn't wish to attend. One of his student troublemakers, Marcus, caused a commotion where he verbally assaulted another student, Meredith, from the back seat, so Barthes kicked him out of class. He then assigns his students to write a paper about what a friend or parent might say about them during a funeral, while another student, Jerry, started to interrupt and approached towards him, asking for paper. Jerry then threw Barthes' suitcase at the door frame as an attempt to scare him, but kept his composure as a result, and lectures Jerry about his empty feelings to assure him that Barthes knew better than him. Barthes lent Jerry a paper and pen, allowing him to write the assignment.
After class, Meredith questioned Barthes on why Marcus was booted out of class instead of Jerry, and he reinstated that Marcus was verbally abusive towards her; it's not allowed in class. Meredith introduced herself, and Barthes reminded her that many people lack self-awareness, had her kept this lesson in mind before second period that the troublemakers will also be there at within the same ages. He walked with another fellow educator, Ms. Sarah Madison down the hallway and introduced to each other, after seeing Madison had a confrontation with one of her students and parents. They then begin to form a relationship during these times, and got along for a while. He later contemplates life and self-consciousness, even voiding his emotions as he walked home. As he reached home to his apartment, he received a call from his grandpa's facility and tells him that his grandfather wouldn't open the door. Learning of his grandpa's Alzheimer's triggering past memories regarding Patricia, he then arrived to the facility in late night, which is what made him agitated at an assisted living nurse for neglecting his grandfather's needs.
Barthes took the bus home, where he began tearing up over his past memories with Patricia, seeing the good life he once had before her passing. Meanwhile, a runaway 15-year-old prostitute named Erica demanded money from one of her old clients after seducing him, to the point that said client slapped her away and not even repaying her needs. Barthes, seeing her for the first time as she attempts to seduce him as well, exits the bus and tries to walk away from her. Erica then began to confront him, telling him that he has more problems and is willing to comfort him through sex. Barthes then refused and gave her life lessons before deciding to leave her for the night, which pissed her off.
===Second Day===
His next day at the public school involved reading off his student's essays about their "funeral". One of those came from the troublemakers who wrote condescending and miscellaneous remarks about females who'd mourn over them, which enlightened the students with a sense of humor, despite him unphased to read obscene words or profanity. Then, Barthes read off another essay from a student with no name, but only this time, they wrote about suicidal ideations, which took a different direction. Later on, Barthes leaves school for the day and meets his Grampa in the care facility, who accidentally urinated on the bed, and he called the caretakers to assist him. He told Grampa if he had written anything in his notebook yet, still he can't recollect memories to even write anything, which is a factor to Alzheimer's. Also, his grandpa was curious on why Barthes didn't revisit the past by speaking to Patricia and instead hiding from it. Barthes then reassures his grandpa that he's not a burden in his life and that he remembers it more differently than him. Grampa, anxious to see Barthes for taking care of him, stated that if he doesn't come back, he himself'll die.
Barthes then left for the day, and came across the same Erica who he encountered earlier, now requesting him for a smoke, to which he didn't have. Erica tells Barthes that she's hungry, but Barthes had some food at his place, so he lets her stay there for the few nights becoming her caretaker. Barthes then gave her a glass of orange juice and a sandwich for her to consume, and questioning her how she got into her current situation. Erica tries to provoke him into sex again, but still refused and had her take a clean shower before both separately slept for the night.
===Third Day===
The next day Barthes arrived to school, he is seen trying to stop the kid from continuing to assault Oliver, who, according to his father as he searched it up, had ADHD and should receive benefits and a free laptop because of it. Later in that day, he saw a group of students surrounding David, another student, repeatedly hurting a cat in his backpack with the hammer's prongs, and immediately intervened before the cat's condition got worse. He glanced at the students before ordering them to class, while he convened with David about his humor with animal cruelty, and if he ever found it funny, to which David doesn't. Barthes then dragged David to counselor Doris Parker's office, where she evaluated that he'd grow up to become psychopathic with the intent to hurting animals. Barthes then asked David how he felt about this, to which the latter responded being trapped like the cat.
After leaving school for today, Barthes found Erica giving her client a blowjob as he arrived home, even getting to a small altercation with said client and demanded to him that he pay Erica. As soon as he tried to scold Erica for making out in his couch bed, he resisted himself and had Erica change the bed sheets and wipe her mouth clean. When Erica pleaded to Barthes to not scold her, Barthes told her it's fine if she did what she needed to do, as long as it's somewhere else and not in his room. For a while, Barthes had Erica take some vitamins and aspirin, and taught her that she's supposed to ask them first before taking them. He then tells her at some point, she should take an HIV test because of this. Before they head back to sleep, Erica asked Barthes why he cried on the bus the first time they met, but Barthes felt reluctant and told her to go to sleep.
===Fourth Day===
Barthes, along with his other colleagues like Mr. Charles Seaboldt and Ms. Perkins, attended Mr. Dean Clausen Vargas's funeral, the teacher whom Parker had Seaboldt fill in for his 2nd period class after deciding to quit and pass away for unknown reasons. When Barthes questioned concerns about Vargas, Seaboldt replied back if anyone even knew or cared. Barthes overlooked inside history class, where students slept through the WW2 documentary, and their teacher displeased with their attentions.
In his class, he taught about "ubiquitous assimilation" and in one of his few most famous speeches to date, persuades his class about the dangers of the marketing "holocaust" and how it's affected everyone else, including him, and what is needed to survive and preserve their minds. Dearden held a late-night teacher meeting, where Mr. Mathias presented the upcoming state exam with new coursework, and that resale value would affect the school had the kids fail the exam in return. For Barthes, many left in distaste, but Madison invited him for dinner. There, she elaborated her life story while Barthes consumed it for the time being. When Madison asked his story out, Barthes also became reluctant in this situation, and told her that he's a regular in teaching. Madison tried enlightening him with something positive, but it's unknown if he followed up with this. After that, Madison kissed Barthes shortly after dropping him off at his apartment, and later driving off back home.
As Barthes entered back his home, he found Erica sitting on his couch with a prepared spaghetti dinner on the table. Erica questioned his whereabouts, and told her indirectly that he was with Madison, and shouldn't be beholden with. At least, Barthes complimented a disgruntled Erica who's deciding to leave, saying that no one's ever cooked him a home meal for a while, which pleased him.
===Fifth Day===
Barthes woke up to Erica preparing his breakfast, and patted her for providing him a refreshing meal to start the day. He and Erica first arrived at the free clinic, where he had Erica take an HIV test with a blood sample from her veins. Barthes sat in the waiting room, contemplating his life about the death of Patricia, and his visit to Grampa, where he still did not remember much to write on the notebook, and lost his habit doing so and make new memories out of it. After Erica finished her blood sampling, they then casually hung out being father & daughter at several places, including the florist, and a party store where they were playing around with products from the shelves, and Barthes purchasing a notebook to write more notes on. Barthes gave Erica her childhood the same way his mother Patricia gave him, reliving how his childhood ended so soon.
They both went outside afterwards and lent on the fence, showing the products they brought from the store, with Erica buying a ring for Barthes to wear on his middle finger. Finally, they head back home using the train to rest for the day.
===Sixth Day===
As Barthes arrived to school the next morning, he saw Mr. Wiatt leaning outside in front of the fence with his arms spread and held to it as perceived being "invisible." Barthes then reminds Wiatt that he sees him, to which he replied back with relief and stated that life felt relentless. Seeing such relief, Wiatt then headed back to school and Barthes moved on with his day.
Barthes moved to Grampa's care facility once more, where he's now in critical condition alongside Erica who told Barthes about his grandpa's fateful condition. Barthes then consoled Grampa about his backstory involving Patricia, imitating himself as a child to Grampa, which is what Grampa vividly remembered him as. Barthes then stated to Grampa that he can feel free to leave at any time, and that Grampa took care of him throughout his life after the tragedy. Barthes and Erica left the care facility, and they sat at the park discussing his backstory while observing the pond with swans in the background. After retelling his story, Barthes and Erica decided to hold hands, strengthening their bond learning their struggles with their childhoods.
During the school's break time, Meredith visited his classroom to present one of her artworks depicting him faceless overseeing an empty classroom. Meredith wanted to share her piece that described him feeling sad, as if she related to him very much when arriving to school, and telling him that he needed someone to talk to. Barthes responded back, saying if she needs someone to talk to, and Meredith felt seen by him with her struggles. As soon she felt relieved she's finally getting the help needed from Barthes, he tried referring her to Parker, which made her upset. Meredith reassured him that they both share the same struggles, but she herself won't last and it's not going to help in the long run. Barthes tried talking sense to her, stating that everyone felt pain and struggled with problems with her not alone in this, but refused to acknowledge this in her perspective. As Meredith began crying after Barthes saw the pain she held for long, he comforted her for a while to relieve the pain she ensured. Barthes then tried to space himself away from her, and trying to refer her to the counselor. Still, no avail.
It was not until Madison eavesdropped on both of them as she walked in, and insinuated the worst. When Madison opened the door, Meredith ran outside immediately upset, thinking he'd refer her away to someone who doesn't feel empathetic for her. Barthes tried to recall Meredith back for making her upset, and because of Madison being very judgmental of the ordeal, worsened the situation. She believed that Barthes was inappropriately touching Meredith alone in his room, while Barthes reassured Madison that he was trying to help Meredith. Overwhelmed by his fragile past of his late mother who needed help, he went on a tantrum by throwing a student desk across the room, repeatedly telling her he's not "some sick old man" and if that's what she sees in him. Appalled by Madison's judgement, he packed his briefcase and quickly left the classroom after reminding her to stop being judgmental. Madison later left the room in frustration, knowing what she caused.
In the heat of the moment, Grampa also passed away at the same time, and didn't know until Erica notified him after he made it back home. There, he visited the facility again, only to see his late grandfather's belongings in a cardboard box on his bed. The only item that stood out was the notebook, where nothing was written on it. Revisiting the bathroom, looking at himself in the mirror, he felt ashamed to look at himself and slid the mirror door open so he can't see himself. He left for the night in shame.
===Seventh Day===
The next day, Barthes woke up first instead of Erica, preparing scrambled eggs and milk for her to eat and drink for breakfast. Erica asked him if he's okay, but replied back not being hungry, which is when Erica realized something went wrong. Barthes called Child Protective Services to help take Erica away from him, since he can't take care of Grampa anymore, as well as Erica for staying with him permanently. Erica then protested against them, saying she's dependent on him and loved him for taking care of her. This broke Barthes, as he's genuinely trying to help her improve maturely, and expressed remorse doing so because he loved Erica as the child he fathered and took care of as a father (like Patricia with him whom she mothered).
On parents night, Barthes revisited the school to see empty hallways and classrooms, delighting him that he felt being back home again but with no parents.
===Eighth Day===
The free clinic reached out to Barthes the next morning about Erica's HIV test results, which are unknown. This day is important, and announced to the class it was his last before a permanent educator is assigned his place on Monday. Everyone was attentive and surprised, because their admired teacher shaped their lives for the best, and was very interested on him rather than the other teachers who, according to Jerry that Barthes left impact on, were "d*ckheads." He was free to answer questions from students, and for Tanya, who asked him how he moved around a lot, responded that he arrives for a period of time so an amount of other substitutes don't arrive often.
Barthes is then seen washing his face in the public school bathroom after Dearden, who painfully teared on the microphone due to her ongoing divorce, announced for a school assembly. The next scene Barthes walked outside school, he saw Meredith hosting her smiling cupcake stall with an art piece behind her. Barthes approached Meredith, wondering where she was during class to which she responded back by baking the cupcakes. He told her that today was his last day, and Meredith replied back with it being ironic, foreshadowing her fate. Knowing how drastic the situation has gotten her into, Barthes tried to console her again, but she dismissed him by being reluctant. Eating the frowned black cupcake customized for herself, Barthes then realized something terrible's going to happen to her. He's unfortunately proven right, because Meredith planned to poison herself that day and he was too late to prevent it. He failed to resuscitate her back to life when it immediately happened, and blamed himself for not saving her life. Everyone gathered around Meredith's stall, which was her goal to make herself feel worth of her work.
Madison, seeing the light in Barthes, entered his classroom to try and comfort him. Barthes denied her, questioning how soulless he became after realizing he can't save everyone he cared about. He tells her that she shouldn't be here, and that he's already not here. More or less, he considered himself hollow. Feeling defeated, Barthes sat on the same park where he told his story to Erica, who he hadn't heard from in a while. It wasn't until he walked to the foster care facility "Guardian Angels Foster Care Service," where Erica now resided writing notes in her diary like Barthes. A blissful Erica, after seeing him come visit her for the first time in a while, euphorically embraced him in his arms. Out of all his failures with family, students and his colleagues, he won helping Erica in the end.
===Aftermath===
The fate of the public school was unknown, as the ending is left for audience interpretation. He is seen teaching what seems to be his last class (where it's interpreted he's teaching to an empty classroom or the same students he once taught before in English 11A) with the story by , and it's unknown whether if he quit teaching or not because of the school's abandonment and closure. In fact, his relationship with Madison is also ambiguous. Since Madison revealed how judgmental she was when Barthes tried comforting Meredith, and that his self-reflection of not saving Meredith had him reconsider his attachment to Madison, it's more likely he broke up with her in the end.
Barthes, some time later in the future, went on an interview detailing the experiences he endured as a high-school substitute teacher. It was shown in the first scene of the film where he tells anyone but the crew and interviewer to stay outside the door for him to start. His whereabouts are also ambiguous, but is believed to live a restful and peaceful life outside the film's events.