I think you're right about the "and." I just listened to the scene five times with my eyes closed, and I'm now hearing "and" instead of "are."
The word preceding "students" is still escaping my ear, though. It's just not articulated clearly. But as you said, logically, if the "a" word is "and," logic supplies "they're" as the first word.
And if Lacroix is supplying information in a "they are" statement, that suggests he set up this encounter. The question then is what he expected to happen when he jumbled these toys together for his amusement -- just a concert, a concert and a meal, or a concert and a meal and all that follows when Nick tries to save the boy and doubtless feels guilty and betrayed both over Janette's draining of the girl?
Re: FW Transcription
The word preceding "students" is still escaping my ear, though. It's just not articulated clearly. But as you said, logically, if the "a" word is "and," logic supplies "they're" as the first word.
And if Lacroix is supplying information in a "they are" statement, that suggests he set up this encounter. The question then is what he expected to happen when he jumbled these toys together for his amusement -- just a concert, a concert and a meal, or a concert and a meal and all that follows when Nick tries to save the boy and doubtless feels guilty and betrayed both over Janette's draining of the girl?