Dead Poets Society Page #13

TODD:

A... A sweaty-toothed madman.

KEATING:

Now there's the poet speaking! Close

your eyes and think of the picture.

Describe what you see. NOW!

TODD:

I... I close my eyes. His image floats

beside me.

KEATING:

(prompting)

A sweaty-toothed madman

TODD:

A sweaty-toothed madman with a stare

that pounds my brain.

KEATING:

Excellent! Have him act. Give it

rhythm!

TODD:

His hands reach out and choke me All the

time he mumbles slowly. Truth... Truth is

like a blanket that always leaves your

feet cold.

This brings chuckles from the class. This angers Todd.

KEATING:

To hell with them, most about the

blanket!

Todd opens his eyes and addresses the class in defiant

cadence.

TODD:

Stretch it, pull it, it will never cover

any of us. Kick at it, beat at it, it

will never be enough-

KEATING:

Don't stop!

TODD:

(struggling, but getting it

out)

From the moment we enter crying to the

moment we leave dying, It will cover

just your head as you wail and cry and

scream!

Todd stands still for a long time. Both he and the students

have felt the magic or what has just taken place. Neil starts

applauding. Others join in. Todd swells and, for the first

time, there is a hint of confidence in him. The applause

stops. Keating walks to Todd.

KEATING:

Don't forget this.

49A EXT. THE SOCCER FIELD - DAY 49A

A soccer ball careens off a kicking foot. Beethoven's Ninth

symphony, fourth movement, "Ode To Joy," blares forth. Keating

stands on the sidelines beside his portable record player,

watching the boys play soccer, waving his arms like an

orchestra conductor. In front of Keating the boys play soccer

to this spectacular music. They run, kick, pass, fall, block,

head, dribble, take--all to the overpowering chorus of one of

the most inspirational pieces of music ever written.

50A EXT DEAD POETS CAVE - AFTERNOON 50A

Boys enter the cave.

50 INT. DEAD POETS CAVE - AFTERNOON 50

Neil hurries in carrying a small, broken statue. The other

pledges of the Dead Poets Society are assembled around

Charlie who sits silently cross-legged before them. His eyes

are closed and, in one hand, he holds an old saxophone.

NEIL:

Look at this.

PITTS:

What is it?

NEIL:

The god of the cave.

The statue has a stake sticking cut of its head with a candle

stuck in it. Neil plants the statue in ground and lights the

candle. It illuminates a red and blue drummer boy, face

pitted from exposure, yet noble in its visage. Charlie, who

hasn't moved, clears his throat. All turn to him and settle

in.

CHARLIE:

Gentlemen, "Poetrusic" by Charles

Dalton.

He blows scattered notes on the saxophone. Random, blaring,

they sound like bad John Cage. Suddenly Charlie stops.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

(trance-like, run-on

delivery)

Laughing, crying, tumbling, mumbling,

gotta do more. Gotta be more

He plays more notes on the sax, then:

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

(more rapid than before)

Chaos screaming, chaos dreaming, crying,

flying, gotta be more!! Gotta be more!!

Charlie plays a simple but absolutely gorgeous melody. The

skeptical looks on the faces of the boys disappear. As

Charlie gets lost in the music, so do the others. The melody

ends with a long, beautiful, haunting note.

NEIL:

Charlie, That was great! Where did you

learn to play like that?

CHARLIE:

My parents made me take clarinet but I

hated it.

(putting on a mock British

accent)

The sax is more sonorous.

Knox stands. He backs away, full of torment and frustration.

KNOX:

God, I can't take it anymore! If I

don't have Chris, I'll kill myself.

CHARLIE:

Knox, you gotta calm down.

KNOX:

No, I've been calm all my life! If I

don't do something, it's gonna kill me.

NEIL:

Where are you going?

KNOX:

I'm calling her!

51 INT. THE DORM PHONE ROOM - LATER 51

All of the boys stand around. Knox picks up the phone,

boldly dials some numbers, then waits.

52 INT. CHRIS' HOUSE - AFTERNOON 52

Chris is in wet hair and a damp towel, but she looks

stunning. She enters and answers the phone.

CHRIS:

Hello?

53 INT. THE DORM PHONE ROOM/STAIRWELL - AFTERNOON 53

Knox hears Chris' voice. He starts to speak, then hangs up

the phone.

KNOX:

She's gonna hate me! The Danburrys will

hate me. My parents will kill me!

He looks at the faces of the others. No one says a word.

KNOX (CONT'D)

All right, goddamn it, you're right!

'Carpe diem' even if it kills me.

He picks up the phone and dials again.

54 INT. CHRIS~ HOUSE - SAME 54

Again the phone rings. Again Chris enters and answers.

CHRIS:

Hello?

55 INT. THE DORM - SAME 55

KNOX:

Hello Chris, this is Knox Overstress.

56 INT. CHRIS' HOUSE - SAME 56

CHRIS:

Knox. Oh yes, Knox. I'm glad you

called.

57 INT. THE DORM - SAME

KNOX:

You are?

(excitedly to his friends)

She's glad I called!

58 INT. CHRIS' HOUSE - SAME 58

I wanted to call you but I didn't have

the number. Chet's parents are going out

of town this weekend so Chet's having a

party. Would you like to come?

59 INT. THE DORM - SAME 59

KNOX:

Well, sure!

60 INT. CHRIS' HOUSE - SAME 60

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