Dead Poets Society Page #18

PITTS (CONT'D)

Oh. Right. That garden. Come on, guys.

The boys head out with Tina.

TINA:

This is so strange! You guys even have

a garden?

Meeks stands in the cave, still not getting it.

MEEKS:

What are you guys talking about?

All of the others are gone. Meeks looks at Charlie, who

stares daggers at him.

MEEKS (CONT'D)

Charles, uh, Nuwanda, we don't have a

garden.

Neil comes back in and pulls Meeks out. Charlie waits for

them to go.

CHARLIE:

(to Gloria)

God, for a smart guy, he's so stupid.

Gloria stares into Charlie's eyes. Charlie smiles.

GLORIA:

I think he's sweet.

CHARLIE:

I think you're sweet.

Charlie looks at her. He closes his eyes and leans slowly in

to kiss her. Just as he is about to, she stands.

GLORIA:

You know what really excites me about

you?

CHARLIE:

(blinking)

What?

GLORIA:

Every guy that I meet wants me for one

thing my body. You're not like that.

CHARLIE:

I'm not?

GLORIA:

No! Anybody else would have jumped my

bones by now but you're after my soul.

Make me up some more poetry.

CHARLIE:

But...

GLORIA:

Please! It's so wonderful to be

appreciated for my mind!

She gets up and starts pacing. Charlie puts his hand over

his face. Gloria turns and looks at him.

GLORIA (CONT'D)

Nuwanda? Please?

CHARLIE:

All right! I'm thinking!

(pause)

"Let me not to the marriage of true

minds

Admit impediments; love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds

Or bends with the remover to remove."

Gloria emits sensual moans.

GLORIA:

Don't stop.

CHARLIE:

(more and more rapidly and

punctuated by Gloria's moans)

"O, no, it is an ever-fixed mark That

looks on tempests and is never shaken; It

is the star to every wandering bark whose

worth's unknown, although his height be

taken."

GLORIA:

This is better than sex any day. This

is romance!

As a frustrated Charlie continues reciting

DISSOLVE TO:

75 INT. WELTON ACADEMY CHAPEL - DAY 75

There is a buzz in the student body as they move to their

seats, passing school newspapers amongst themselves. Knox's

face is marked with bruises. Neil, Todd, Pitts, Necks,

Cameron and especially Charlie's faces are marked with

exhaustion.

Pitts hands Charlie a briefcase.

PITTS:

(low)

All set.

Charlie nods. Mr. Nolan enters. All put away the newspapers

and stand. Nolan strides to the podium and motions for

everyone to sit. All obey.

NOLAN:

In this week's issue of Walter Honor,

there appeared an unauthorized and

profane article about the need for girls

at Welton. Rather than spend my valuable

time ferreting out the guilty parties--

and let me assure you I will find them--I

am asking any and all students who know

anything about this article to make

themselves known here and now. Whoever

the guilty persons are, this is your only

chance to avoid expulsion from this

school.

Suddenly, somewhere in the room there is the sound of a

TELEPHONE RINGING. Charlie briskly lifts the briefcase into

his lap and opens it. Inside the briefcase is a ringing

telephone. Everyone in assembly is astounded. No one has

ever done something this outrageous here. Charlie, undaunted,

seemingly serious, answers the phone.

CHARLIE (INTO PHONE)

(for all to hear)

Welton Academy, hello? Yes, he is, just

a moment. Mr. Nolan, it's for you.

NOLAN:

what?!

Charlie places the receiver back to his ear.

CHARLIE (INTO PHONE)

It is? You do? I'll tell him. Mr.

Nolan, it's God. He says we should have

girls at Welton.

There is a blast of laughter from the students. On stage

with the teachers, Keating is surprised and amused, but

worried. He and McAllister exchange concerned looks. Blood

red, furious, Nolan strides down the aisle to Charlie. He

sweeps the phone off of Charlie's lap.

NOLAN:

I will not be mocked, Mr. Dalton!

He takes Charlie by the arm and jerks him out of the

assembly. Keating watches with concern.

76 INT. NOLAN'S OFFICE - DAY 76

Charlie stands in the middle of the room. Nolan paces

furiously.

NOLAN:

Who else was involved in this?

CHARLIE:

No one, sir. It was just me. I did the

proofing so I inserted my article in

place of Rob Crane's.

NOLAN:

Mr. Dalton, if you think you're the

first to try to get thrown out of this

school, think again. Others have had

similar actions and they have failed just

as surely as you will fail. Bend over

and grab your shins.

Charlie obeys and Nolan produces a paddle. The paddle has

holes drilled in it to speed its progress. Nolan takes off his

jacket and moves behind Charlie.

NOLAN (CONT'D)

Count aloud, Mr. Dalton.

He slams the paddle into Charlie's buttocks.

CHARLIE:

One

Nolan swings the paddle again. This time he gets more power

into it. Charlie winces.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

Two

Nolan delivers and Charlie counts. By the fourth lick, the

pain is so intense that Charlie is barely audible. By the

seventh lick, tears are flowing down Charlie's cheeks. The

ninth and tenth licks have Charlie choking on his words,

speechless. Nolan stops after ten licks.

NOLAN:

Do you still insist that this was your

idea and your idea alone?

CHARLIE:

(choking back pain)

Yes... sir.

NOLAN:

What is this "Dead Potts Society"? I

want names.

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