Goodbye, Mr. Chips Page #6

He is charged with running

and improving the school.

His authority cannot be questioned.

We must have hierarchies.

We must have...points of reference.

I thank you but you must dismiss.

Go on.

(Staefel) Here it is now.

Yes!

Shall I accompany you to the station?

No, thank you. No.

(Boy) Drill in five minutes!

Does your cousin have need of a...

slightly experienced Latin master?

My dearest Chipping,

I greatly appreciate

the sacrifice you have made

but you must retract your position.

I beg of you, reconsider, please.

Do it for me.

Too late, I fear.

(Ralston) Sir John.

Max, you're a marvellous friend.

Please...take good care of yourself.

(Ralston) He has become

a focus of discontent.

The boys are openly rebellious.

I've known him eccentric

but never dramatic.

Suppose we allowed

a limited number of bursaries?

- You mean I should back down?!

- No. No, my dear fellow.

The governors wish me

to surrender to insubordination?

No, of course not,

the governors do understand.

It's just... I just worry.

Chips has taught

generations of some families.

I showed him round on his first day.

Sir John, the boys and the masters

are all aware of this confrontation.

Were Chipping to be reinstated,

my authority...

Gone.

No leader governs by ultimatum,

as you know,

but in this case,

I fear it has come to a choice.

Morning, school.

(Boys, mumbling)

Good morning, Headmaster.

Good morning, school.

(Boys, slightly clearer)

Good morning, Headmaster.

In the few weeks I've been here

we've achieved a great deal.

But there's more to do. Some of you

may recognise our guest today.

A pleasant surprise,

the chairman of our governors,

Sir John Rivers.

I'm sure he will have a few words

to say to us

about the necessary changes

which Brookfield must now embrace.

Sir John.

Good morning, gentlemen.

My time at Brookfield shaped my life

and I'm pleased and proud to be

here today to acknowledge that.

The headmaster has spoken of change

and we must all embrace change,

however unpleasant.

But we at Brookfield must also

be aware of that sense of continuity

and tradition

that has made us what we are -

Brookfeldians.

As you are aware, one of the pillars

of the school has been your -

and my - Latin teacher, Mr Chipping.

You are also aware that

we have been in danger of losing him.

I now invite him

to change his decision.

And to confirm that he will

stay with us by leading us all

in the school prayer.

(Boys whispering excitedly)

You have placed me

in an impossible position.

You've done that for yourself.

(Boy) Come on, sir!

(2nd boy) Yes, sir!

(Boy) Chips!

(Boys begin chanting) Chips! Chips!

(All boys chanting and stamping feet)

Chips! Chips! Chips!

(Chanting stops)

O Lord,

shine your light

on Brookfield school...

(All) ..on her teachers

and on her students.

Grant us the enlightenment

of eternal knowledge

that we may proceed

along a path of learning

that has been illuminated

with your grace.

- Amen.

- (All) Amen.

Colley, isn't it?

Yes, yes,

I always recognise a Colley.

How are you, sir?

Oh, my dear fellow.

The mud is grey...

not brown like ours.

It makes sucking noises...

It sucks men down.

You're not supposed to drown in mud,

you're supposed to drown in water.

(Machine guns)

(Colley) 'Lost a boot, sir.

'Stepped on something.

'His body, sir.'

(Chipping) 'School, we have informed

the War Ministry in London

'that we have ploughed

our playing fields

'and we now await their directions

'as to which crops

we shall be required to grow.'

(Rivers) Come in!

Oh! Gentlemen. Heavens. Sir John.

- Hello, sir.

- Oh, it's young Sexton, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

More down to earth than I remember.

Yes. I avoid roofs, sir.

So good to see you.

Shall we all sit down?

Mr Chipping, we want to thank you.

Since Mr Ralston decided

to rejoin his regiment,

you've accepted extra

responsibilities at a difficult time

- and we appreciate your efforts.

- (All agree)

We know that retirement

could and should be your reward...

but my fellow governors and I

would like formally to offer you

the position of

Headmaster of Brookfield.

It's an appointment

that's long overdue.

I shall be honoured.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- (Knock at door)

- Come in.

(Boy) Good morning, Headmaster.

(Chipping) Yes, it is rather, it is.

Sir.

Pet centipede, Callender?

- Sir?

- All these pigs.

- Sir, I fag for Beccles.

- Oh-oh, please,

don't tell me, Callender.

(Humming happily)

(Man) And do you know why?

The quartermaster had a wooden leg!

(Laughter)

Headmaster!

(Sighs)

Beccles, make me some toast.

Lancaster, see if you can't

put a shine on these pigs.

Sir...we don't fag.

- We're not...

- Precisely.

Nobody fags for me

and I'm more senior than you.

Pass it on.

(Drill Sergeant

yelling indistinctly outside)

You wanted to see me, Headmaster?

Yes, come in, Morgan.

This wretched war has taken

such a heavy toll on everyone.

There isn't an easy way

to say this, Morgan.

I've received news that your father

has been killed in action.

I'm so sorry.

I feel certain

that he made a fine soldier.

He was a fine student.

Brilliant linguist.

He spoke perfect German.

He had a good teacher.

I hate Germans! I hate them all!

I'm so sorry.

'It is a matter of pride,

but also sad,

'I fear I must announce

the death of more Brookfeldians

'who died fighting

for King and country.

'Captain Robert Mitchell Rivers,

'a previous head boy of this school

'and the eldest son of Sir John

Rivers, our chairman of governors.'

Subaltern Andrew Anthony Grenville

of the Suffolk Regiment,

killed in action at the Somme.

'Edward Charles Peter Hawthorne,

'captain in the 1st Somerset Light

Infantry, commendation for bravery,

'mortally wounded at the Somme.

'Lieutenant Michael Jeremy Atkins,

'missing in action with

the Grenadier Guards, presumed dead.

'Lieutenant Colonel

Stephen Charles Alderdyce,

'119th Battalion

of the Royal Field Artillery,

'special commendation for bravery,

killed in action.

'Captain James Asquith Highcroft,

Oxford and Buckingham Light Infantry,

'missing in action, presumed dead.

'Lieutenant Colonel George Arthur

Wallingford, Lancashire Fusiliers,

'missing in action.

'Captain Robert William Willis,

Royal Engineers, missing in action.

'Lieutenant Colonel John Henry

Rinehart, Royal Horse Artillery,

'killed in action. Second

Lieutenant Graham Sidney Evans...'

(Man ) 'Ebbersley, Ferguson...'

And finally I regret

that I have to announce

the sad death of a beloved colleague

and a fine teacher.

Those of us who knew him

will be sorry to hear

that Maximillian Friedmann Staefel

- was killed two weeks ago.

- (Muttering) Filthy Hun.

This school...owes him much.

Such capacities as a teacher -

and human being -

must not be clouded

by issues of nationality

even in such crucial times.

Individuals are not nations.

Let us remember Max Staefel.

Let us remember them all

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