Dead Poets Society Page #10

He leaps onto his desk.

KEATING (CONT'D)

Why do I stand here? To feel taller

than you? I stand on my desk to remind

myself that we must constantly force

ourselves to look at things differently.

The world looks different from up here.

If you don't believe it, stand up here

and try it. All of you. Take turns.

Keating jumps off. The boys, with the notable exception of

Todd, go to the front of the room and a few at a time take

turns standing on Keating's desk. As they do, Keating strolls

up and down the aisles.

KEATING (CONT'D)

Try never to think about anything the

same way twice. If you're sure about

something, force yourself to think about

it another way, even if you know it's

wrong or silly. When you read, don't

consider only what the author thinks, but

take the time to consider what you think.

You must strive to find your own voice,

boys, and the longer you wait to begin,

the less likely you are to find it at

all. Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives

of quiet desperation." I ask, why be

resigned to that? Risk walking new

ground. Now. A flame in your hearts

could change the world, lads. Nurture

it.

Keating goes to the door. He locks at the class, then

flashes the room lights on and off over and over. He makes a

noise like crashing thunder.

KEATING (CONT'D)

In addition to your essays, I want you

each to write a poem--something your own

to be delivered aloud in class. See

you Monday.

He exits. Momentarily, he pops his head back in.

KEATING (CONT'D)

(impish grin)

And don't think I don't know this

assignment scares you to death, Mr.

Anderson, you mole.

Keating holds out his hands and pretends he is sending

lightning bolts at Todd. The class laughs. Todd forces a

hint of a smile.

A36 INT./EXT. WELTON CAMPUS, AFTERNOON - VARIOUS LOCATIONS A36

Pitts and Meeks climb up the inside of the bell tower that

sits atop the Welton Chapel. They affix Pitts' crystal radio

antenna to the chapel cross. momentarily, they tune in a

fuzzy rock 'n roll station.

PITTS:

Radio Free America.

They try to tune in the music but it soon dissolves into

static. They jiggle the radio in frustration.

36 36

Some of the Welton students run on the green, kicking soccer

balls.

37 37

Down at the lake, the Welton crew team is practicing. Mr.

Nolan sits in a rowboat, smoking a pipe, watching.

38 38

Knox rides down a wooded lane on his bike. He comes to

RIDGEWAY HIGH SCHOOL. Beyond a fence, uniformed boys practice

football. Not far from them, cheerleaders practice. Knox

stops. He sees:

Among the cheerleaders is Chris. She laughs as she practices

the cheers with the other girls. Knox watches her with

intense longing in his eyes.

Chet Danburry catches a pass in front of Chris, struts for

her amusement, then moves on. Chris laughs.

Knox gets back on his bike and pedals away

39 INT. TODD AND NEIL'S ROOM - AFTERNOON 39

Todd sits at his bed, a pad of paper beside him. He starts

to write something, scratches it out, then covers his face in

frustration. The door opens. Neil enters, looking like he's

just seen God. He lets his books fall to his desk.

NEIL:

I've found it.

TODD:

Found what?

NEIL:

What I want to do! Right now. What is

really inside of me.

He hands Todd a piece of paper. Todd reads it.

TODD:

A Midsummer Night's Dream. What is it?

NEIL:

A play, dummy.

TODD:

I know that. What's it got to do with

you?

NEIL:

They're putting it on at Henley Hall.

See, open try-outs.

TODD:

So?

NEIL:

So I'm gonna act! Ever since I can

remember I've wanted to try it. Last

summer I even tried to go to summer stock

auditions but of course my father

wouldn't let me.

TODD:

And now he will?

NEIL:

Hell no, but that's not the point. The

point is for the first time in my whole

goddamned life, I know what I want, and

for the first time I'm gonna do it

whether my father wants me to or not!

Carpe diem, goddamn it!

Neil picks up the play and reads a coupe of lines aloud. They

delight him. He clenches his fists in the air with joy.

TODD:

Neil, how are you gonna be in a play if

your father won't let you?

NEIL:

First I gotta get the part, then I'll

worry about that.

TODD:

Won't he kill you if you don't let him

know you're auditioning?

NEIL:

As far as I'm concerned, he won't have

to know about any of it.

TODD:

Come on, that's impossible.

NEIL:

Horseshit. Nothing's impossible.

TODD:

Why don't you ask him first? Maybe

he'll say yes.

NEIL:

That's a laugh. If I don't ask, at

least I won't be disobeying him.

TODD:

But if he said no before then...

NEIL:

Jesus Christ, whose side are you on? I

haven't even gotten the part yet. Can't

I enjoy the idea even for a little while?

Todd turns back to his work. Neil sits on the bed and starts

reading the play.

NEIL (CONT'D)

By the way, there's a meeting this

afternoon. You coming?

TODD:

(blase)

I guess.

Neil puts down his play and looks at Todd.

NEIL:

None of what Mr. Keating has to say

means sh*t to you, does it?

TODD:

What is that supposed to mean?

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