Akeelah and the Bee is the story of a talented South Los Angeles girl who overcomes her fears and all other obstacles to compete at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Akeelah is in the office of her spelling coach, Mr. Larabee (Lawrence Fishburne). He asks Akeelah: "Have you got any goals? What would you like to be when you grow up? A doctor, a lawyer, a standup comic?"

"I don't know. The only thing I'm good at is spelling."

"Go over there." He motions toward a plaque on the wall. "And read the quotation that's on the wall. Read it aloud please."

Akeelah walks over and begins to read. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

"Does that mean anything to you?" Larabee asks. "What does it mean?"

"That I'm not supposed to be afraid," she answers.

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid of…me?"

Akeelah chooses not to be afraid and is inspired to become co-champion of the National Spelling Bee.

Elapsed time: DVD scene 9, "I Need a Coach"; 00:39:55 – 00:41:38

Content: Rated PG for language