Scent of a Woman Page #11

You are in the Baird school,

not a barracks.

Mr. Simms, I will give you one

final opportunity to speak up.

Mr. Simms

doesn't want it.

He doesn't need

to be labeled...

"still worthy of

being a Baird man."

What the hell

is that ?

What is your motto here ?

"Boys, inform on your

classmates, save your hide;

anything short of that,

we're gonna burn you at the stake" ?

Well, gentlemen,

when the sh*t hits the fan,

some guys run...

and some guys stay.

Here's Charlie facin' the fire,

and there's George...

hidin' in

big daddy's pocket.

And what are you doin' ?

You're gonna

reward George...

and destroy Charlie.

-Are you finished, Mr. Slade ?

-No, I'm just gettin' warmed up.

[ Slade ] I don't know who

went to this place.

William Howard Taft,

William Jennings Bryant,

William Tell, whoever.

Their spirit is dead,

if they ever had one.

It's gone.

You're buildin'

a rat ship here,

a vessel for

seagoin' snitches.

And if you think you're

preparin' these minnows for manhood,

you better think again,

because I say you are

killin' the very spirit...

this institution

proclaims it instills.

What a shame.

What kind of a show

are you guys puttin' on here today ?

I mean, the only class

in this act is sittin' next to me.

I'm here to tell you

this boy's soul is intact.

It's non-negotiable.

You know how I know ?

Someone here, and I'm not gonna say who,

offered to buy it.

- Only Charlie here wasn't sellin'.

- Sir, you're out of order.

I show you out of order.

You don't know what

out of order is, Mr. Trask.

I'd show you,

but I'm too old,

I'm too tired,

too f***in' blind.

If I were the man I was

five years ago, I'd take...

a flamethrower

to this place !

Out of order ? Who the hell

you think you're talkin' to ?

I've been around,

you know ?

There was a time

I could see.

And I have seen.

Boys like these,

younger than these,

their arms torn out,

their legs ripped off.

But there is nothin'

like the sight...

of an amputated spirit.

There is

no prosthetic for that.

You think you're merely sendin'

this splendid foot soldier...

back home to Oregon with

his tail between his legs,

but I say you are...

executin' his soul !

And why ?

Because he's not

a Baird man.

Baird men.

You hurt this boy,

you're gonna be Baird bums,

the lot of you.

And, Harry, Jimmy,

Trent, wherever

you are out there,

- f*** you too !

- [ Gavel Pounding ]

Stand down, Mr. Slade !

I'm not finished.

As I came in here,

I heard those words:

"cradle of leadership."

Well, when

the bough breaks,

the cradle will fall,

and it has fallen here.

It has fallen.

Makers of men,

creators of leaders.

Be careful what kind of leaders

you're producin' here.

I don't know if Charlie's

silence here today...

is right or wrong;

I'm not a judge or jury.

But I can tell you this:

he won't sell

anybody out...

to buy his future !

And that, my friends,

is called integrity.

That's called courage.

Now that's the stuff

leaders should be made of.

Now I have come to

the crossroads in my life.

I always knew

what the right path was.

Without exception, I knew,

but I never took it.

You know why ?

It was too damn hard.

Now here's Charlie.

He's come to the crossroads.

He has chosen a path.

It's the right path.

It's a path

made of principle...

that leads to character.

Let him continue

on his journey.

You hold this boy's future

in your hands, Committee.

It's a valuable future,

believe me.

Don't destroy it.

Protect it.

Embrace it.

It's gonna make you proud

one day, I promise you.

How's that for cornball ?

[ Applause Continues ]

Nothing can

shut them up, sir.

[ Applause Stops ]

The Disciplinary Committee will

take this matter under advisement...

in closed session.

[ Indistinct ]

- What are they doin', Charlie ?

- I think they're going

to come to a decision now.

[ Indistinct

Conversation ]

Very well.

Apparently, that meeting

will be unnecessary.

Mrs. Hunsaker.

The joint student-faculty

Disciplinary Committee...

needs no further sessions.

They have come

to a decision.

Misters Havemeyer,

Potter and Jameson...

are placed

on probation...

for suspicion of

ungentlemanly conduct.

It is further recommended

that Mr. George Willis, Jr....

receive neither recognition

nor commendation...

for his cooperation.

Mr. Charles Simms

is excused...

from any further response

to this incident.

- Whoo-ah.

- [ Cheering And Applause ]

Charlie !

- Last step.

- I can always count on you, Charlie.

[ Woman ]

Colonel.

Colonel !

I'm Christine Downes,

Colonel Slade.

I teach

Political Science.

I wanted to tell you

how much I appreciate...

- your coming here

and speaking your mind.

- Thank you. Are you married ?

Uh --

I, uh --

Went to a artillery school

at Fort Sill with a Mickey Downes.

Thought he might've

snagged you.

Uh, no, no,

I'm afraid not.

Uh, Colonel Slade was on, uh,

Lyndon Johnson's staff,

Miss Downes.

Were you ? Fascinating.

We should get together,

talk politics sometime.

Fleurs de rocailles.

Yes.

"Flowers from a brook."

That's right.

Well, Miss Downes,

I, I'll know

where to find you.

Charlie.

- [ Charlie ] Bye, Miss Downes.

- Bye.

You don't have

to tell me, Charlie.

auburn hair,

beautiful

brown eyes.

Yabba dabba doo.

Hah !

Manny.

Aw, Colonel,

this is too much.

You earned it.

Next time Charlie and l...

want to take a breather to New York,

we're gonna call you.

You can drive us

both ways.

You're on. Not only

will it be an honor,

I'll give you

a rate.

I'll see your rate

and raise you.

Stay outta

harm's way, Manny.

- Take care, Colonel.

- You too.

- Ready ?

- No, thanks, Charlie.

I'll take it from here.

You go on ahead.

Manny'll drive you back to your dorm.

Come by before you

go home for Christmas.

We'll have a little cheer.

And if you like,

stay for dinner.

Sometimes she cooks

a pot roast.

It's almost edible.

All right, Colonel.

- That'd be really --

- Bye, Charlie.

Who's there ?

- That you, Francine ?

- Yes.

- What are you doing ?

- Taking a ride.

Taking a ride ?

What about you giving me a lift ?

- No.

- No ?

Aw, come on,

Francine.

We should make up.

Don't you think it's time we made up ?

- [ Francine ] No.

- [ Slade ] Francine ?

- What ?

- Your Uncle Frank's had himself...

a really hard

Thanksgiving weekend.

- [ Willie Muttering ]

- What's that ?

I hear a chipmunk.

Is it a walrus ?

No, it's Willie.

Willie, why don't you

help me with my bag ?

Come on, son.

Help me with my bag.

Come on. Come on.

You got it. Hold onto it.

You're strong.

Come on.

Here we are.

Francine, come on

with me and Willie.

I'll let you make me

some marshmallow chocolate.

- Whaddaya say ?

- Okay.

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