Dead Poets Society Page #21

Neil jumps down from the wall.

NEIL (CONT'D)

You should come to rehearsals. I know

they need people to work the lights and

stuff.

TODD:

No thanks.

NEIL:

Lots of girls. The girl who plays

Hermia is incredible.

TODD:

I'll come to the performance.

NEIL:

Chicken sh*t. Where were we?

TODD:

Yea, art thou there?

NEIL:

Put more into it!

TODD:

YEA, ART THOU THERE?!

NEIL:

That's it! "Follow my voice. We'll try

no manhood here." See you at dinner.

Neil and Todd have arrived at their dorm. Neil runs in. Todd

shakes his head and walks off.

86 INT. TODD AND NEIL'S DORM ROOM - DUSK 86

Neil enters in a whirlwind of excitement, fencing the air

with the Jester's stick. Neil turns and sees his father,

sitting at his desk. Neil is shocked.

NEIL:

Father!

MR. PERRY

Neil, you are going to quit this

ridiculous play immediately.

NEIL:

Father, I--

Mr. Perry jumps to his feet and pounds his hand on the desk.

MR. PERRY

Don't you dare talk back to me! It's

bad enough that you've wasted your time

with this absurd acting business. But

you deliberately deceived me!

(paces furiously)

Who put this in your head? How did you

expect to get away with it? Answer me!

NEIL:

Nobody- I thought I'd surprise you.

I've got all As and-

MR. PERRY

Did you really think I wouldn't find

out?! "My niece is in a play with your

son," Mrs. Marks says. "You must be

mistaken," I say. "My son isn't in a

play." You made a liar out of me, Neil!

Now you will go tomorrow and tell them

you are quitting.

NEIL:

Father, I have the main part. The

performance is tomorrow night. Father,

please.

MR. PERRY

(moves at Neil)

I don't care if the world is coming to

an end tomorrow night, you are through

with that play! Is that clear? Is that

clear!

NEIL:

Yes sir.

Mr. Perry stops. He stares hard at his son.

MR. PERRY

I've made great sacrifices to get you

here, Neil. You will not let me down.

He turns and exits. Neil stands there for a long time. He

goes to his desk, then suddenly begins pounding his fist on

it. He pounds and pounds as tears roll down his face.

87 INT. THE WELTON DINING ROOM - EVENING 87

All of the society "pledges" except Neil sit eating. It

could be noticed that the boys--Charlie, Knox, Todd, Weeks,

and Pitts--seem to be having difficulty eating. They look

awkward. Old Hager approaches.

Mr. Dalton, what is wrong, son? Are you

having difficulty with your meal?

CHARLIE:

No.

Hager watches the boys.

HAGER:

Misters Necks and Overstreet and

Anderson, are you normally left-handed?

BOYS:

No sir.

HAGER:

Then why are you eating with your left

hands?

The boys look at each other. Knox speaks for the group:

KNOX:

We thought it would be good to break old

habits, sir.

HAGER:

What is wrong with old habits, Mr.

Overstreet?

KNOX:

They perpetuate mechanical living, sir.

They limit your mind.

HAGER:

Mr. Overstreet, I suggest you worry less

about breaking old habits and more about

developing good study habits. Do you

understand?

KNOX:

Yes sir.

HAGER:

That goes for all of you. Now eat with

your correct hands.

Hager watches. The boys obey. After he moves away, Charlie

switches hands and begins eating with his left hand again.

One by one, the others do the same.

Neil enters, looking solemn and upset. He silently takes his

seat at the table.

NEIL:

Visit from my father.

TODD:

Do you have to quit the play?

NEIL:

I don't know.

CHARLIE:

Why don't you talk to Mr. Keating about

it?

NEIL:

What good will that do?

CHARLIE:

Maybe he'll have some advice. Maybe

he'll even talk to your father.

NEIL:

Are you kidding? Don't be ridiculous.

88 EXT. KEATING'S ROOM - EVENING 88

Keating's quarters are on the second floor of a dorm, but

they are entered from the outside. Charlie, Todd, Pitts1 and

Neil stand outside the door. Charlie knocks.

NEIL:

This is stupid.

CHARLIE:

It's better than doing nothing.

No one comes to the door.

NEIL:

He's not here.

Charlie tries the door and it opens.

CHARLIE:

Let's wait for him.

Charlie goes in.

OTHERS:

Charlie! Nuwanda!

Charlie doesn't come out. Curiosity gets the best of the

others, who reluctantly follow Charlie in.

89 INT. KEATINGS ROOM - SAME 89

The furniture is simple and spartan and the room looks almost

lonely. The boys stand around looking uncomfortable.

PITTS:

(low)

Nuwanda, we shouldn't be in here.

Charlie and the boys survey the room. There is a suitcase on

the floor by the door. A few books lay by the bed. Charlie

walks to the desk.

CHARLIE:

Whoa, look at her!

On the desk is a framed picture of a beautiful girl in her

20s. Lying next to the picture is a half-written letter.

Charlie picks it up and reads.

CHARLIE (CONT'D) (reading)

My darling Jessica. It's so lonely at

times without you bla bla bla. All I can

do to put myself at ease is study your

beautiful picture or close my eyes and

imagine your radiant smile--but my poor

imagination is a dim substitute for you.

Oh, how I miss you and wish--

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