Doubt Page #5

The next one of you that speaks out of

turn gets sent right to the Principal!

Now the question was:

What was Patrick Henry's famous remark?

- Donald.

- Sister?

What was the question?

Nobody help him.

Jimmy, put your hand down.

Donald Miller, stand up.

- What was the question, Donald?

- I don't know, Sister.

- That means you weren't listening.

- Yes, Sister.

The question was:

What was Patrick Henry's famous remark?

- I don't know.

- "Give me liberty or give me death!"

James Hurley, down to the

Principal's office now!

- Mrs. Miller?

- Yes.

Come in.

Please have a seat.

I was changing a bulb.

I thought I mighta had the wrong day.

You didn't answer.

Huh? Oh. Well, just between us,

Iwas listening to a transistor radio

with an earpiece.

Look how tiny they're making 'em.

I confiscated it from one of the students,

now I can't stop listening to it.

You like music?

No. News reports.

Years ago I used to listen

to all the news reports

because my husband was in Italy

in the war.

- You were a married woman?

- Yes. But then he was killed.

- Is your husband coming?

- Couldn't get off work.

I only have a half an hour myself.

I see. Of course. It was a lot to ask.

How's Donald doing?

He's passing his subjects.

He has average grades.

Hmm. Good. He was upset about

getting taken off the altar boys.

Did he explain why?

He said he was caught

drinking altar wine.

That is the reason.

Well, that seems fair.

But he's a good boy, Sister.

He fell down there, but he's a good boy

pretty much down the line.

How is he at home?

His father beat the hell out of him

over that wine.

Oh, he shouldn't do that!

You don't tell my husband what to do.

You just stand back.

My husband didn't want

Donald to come here.

- Why?

- He thought he'd have trouble

with the other boys.

But that hasn't eally happened.

Good.

That priest, Father Flynn,

been watching out for him.

Yes.

Excuse me.

- James Hurley, what are you doing out

of class? - Sister James sent me down.

- What for?

- Talking.

Well, go back up and shut up!

Go, go!

What's going on?

None of your business!

Go on! Go back to class.

Bullshit.

- What'd you say?

- Nothing.

- You have twenty minutes you say?

- It's just that I have to walk to work.

- Where is work?

- Parkchester.

If I don't start cleaning by noon,

I'm not home to let Donald in.

- May I walk with you?

- I don't mind.

...eight sixty-fourths. Who can tell me

what the common denominator is?

Nobody?

Back already, Mr. Hurley?

- I said, back already, Mr. Hurley?!

- Leave me alone.

Who do you think you're talking to?

This is my classroom, Boy.

Don't you forget that.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Jimmy.

Have you met Father Flynn?

Just seen him on the altar,

haven't met him face to face.

No. Just, you know, heard from Donald.

And what does he say?

Oh, you know,

"Father Flynn, Father Flynn."

He looks up to him. The man gives him

his time, which is what the boy needs.

He needs that.

Mrs. Miller, we may have a problem.

Well, I thought there musta been

a reason you wanting to see me.

Principal's a big job.

I just want to say though,

it's just till June.

Excuse me?

Whatever the problem is,

Donald just has to make it till June.

- Then he's off into high school.

- Right.

If Donald can graduate

from St. Nicholas,

he's got a better chance of getting

into a good high school.

And that would mean

an opportunity at college.

I don't see anything at this time standing

in the way of his graduating with his class.

- Well, that's all I care about.

- I doubt that.

Try me.

I am concerned about the relationship

between Father Flynn and your son.

You don't say. Concerned.

What do you mean, concerned?

That it may not be right.

Well, there's something wrong

with everybody, isn't that so?

Got to be forgiving. I work right there.

I'm concerned, to be frank,

that Father Flynn may have

made advances on your son.

- May have made.

- I can't be certain.

- No evidence?

- No.

Then maybe there's nothing to it.

I think there is something to it.

I think Father Flynn gave

Donald that altar wine.

Why would he do that?

- Has Donald been acting strange lately?

- No.

- Nothing out of the ordinary?

- He's been himself.

- Alright.

- Look, Sister. I don't want any trouble.

I don't uhh... I'm not sure

you completely understand.

I think I understand the kind of thing

you're talking about.

But I don't want to get into it.

What's that?

Look, I only have a few minutes.

Not to be disagreeing, but if we're

talking about something floating

around between this priest and my son,

it ain't my son's fault.

- Oh, I'm not suggesting that---

- He's just a boy.

- I know.

- Twelve years old.

If somebody should be taking blame,

it should be the man, not the boy.

- I know. I agree with you completely.

- You're agreeing with me,

but I got called to the principal

if you know what I'm saying.

I am concerned about Donald's welfare.

You honestly think that priest

gave Donald that wine to drink?

Yes, I do.

Then how come

my son got kicked off the altar boys

- if it was the man that gave it to him?

- I know.

The boy got caught, the man didn't.

- So you're giving my son the blame.

- No.

No problem my son getting blamed.

And you know why that is?

Perhaps you should let me talk.

I think you're getting upset now.

Sister, you ain't going against no MAN

in a ROBE and win.

- He's got the position.

- And he's got your son.

Let him have him then.

What?

It's just till June.

- Do you know what you're saying?

- Know more about it than you.

I believe this man is creating or

may have already brought about

- an improper relationship with your son.

- I don't know.

I know I am right.

Why you gotta know something like

that for sure when you don't?

What kind of mother are you?

Excuse me, but you don't know

enough about life to say

- a thing like that, Sister.

- I know enough.

You know the rules maybe,

but that don't cover it.

I know what I won't accept!

You accept what you gotta accept

and you work with it.

This man is in my school.

Well, he's gotta be somewhere

and maybe he's doing some good, too.

He is after the boys!

Well, maybe some of them boys want

to get caught!

That's why his father beat him.

Not the wine.

What are you telling me?

I'm talking about the boy's nature now,

not anything he's done.

You can't hold a child responsible

for what God gave him to be.

I'm only interested in actions,

Mrs. Miller.

But then there's the boy's nature.

- Leave that out of it.

- Forget it then.

You're the one forcing people

to say things.

My boy came to your school 'cause they

were going to kill him in the public school.

His father don't like him.

He come to your school,

kids don't like him.

One man is good to him. This priest.

Then does the man have his reasons? Yes.

Everybody does. YOU have your reasons.

But do I ask the man

why he's good to my son?

No.

I don't care why.

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