The Bells of St. Mary's Page #6

- Once a pianist, always a pianist.

I got him through the Musicians' Union.

I went right to the top. Petrillo.

- I don't know what to say.

- Neither do I.

Well... Is he in town?

- In town? He's out in the hall.

- Oh, no.

- Shall I bring him in?

- No. That is...

Wait just a minute, will you?

I... You know.

She'll be a few minutes. She's fixing

her hair and powdering her nose.

You know how it is.

This is kind of a big moment for me.

It's 13 years.

I was a little bit younger then.

He hasn't exactly been on ice, you know.

Well, shall we...

Hello.

Hello.

Goodbye.

- Don't go yet.

- Please stay a little while.

Joe, sit down.

- You, too, Father.

- Thank you.

You haven't changed a bit.

Neither have you, Joe.

- Do me a favour.

- What?

Play the piano. Please.

I want Father to hear. I've told him

about you. Don't let me down.

Listen to this, Father. He's really good.

What was that song

we used to love so much?

You mean By The Sea?

No, Joe.

No, it... It had a bit of The Rosary in it.

But that wasn't the melody.

Joe, don't you remember?

We said that no matter what happened,

that song would always see us through.

And then

we pressed the rosebud in the book.

- What happened?

- Yeah.

Where's the book?

- What's... Do you know it?

- Sure.

That's an old song

called In The Land Of Beginning Again.

- Why didn't you say?

- You never asked.

- Come on over and get in this.

- You'll be sorry.

There's a land of beginning again

Where skies are always blue

Though we've made mistakes

That's true

Let's forget the past and start life anew

Though we've wandered

By a river of tears

Where sunshine won't come through

Let's find that paradise

Where sorrow can't live

And learn the teachings

Of forget and forgive

In the land of beginning again

Where broken dreams come true

- The girls are all excited.

- Yes.

Reminds me of when I graduated.

It's a big moment in their lives.

Incidentally, it's the first time

they're wearing high heels.

- Look, Sister.

- That's really nice, Patsy.

Push your sleeve up.

I think it's a little long.

- It's supposed to be.

- Only on one side.

- You don't want to stumble on it.

- Patsy's getting all the attention.

- No, that isn't right.

- Patsy's teacher's pet.

- Jealous.

- You gave her the prettiest dress.

- It would look better on me.

- Girls, that's enough.

- You'd better take your dresses off.

- I got a funny idea.

Suppose, after all this, I flunk.

That would be horrible.

Sister, you wouldn't do that to us.

It would be a great idea

to cut out the finals entirely.

You can't get around me that way.

Run along. Take the dresses off.

Sister, could I take this dress over

and show it to my mother?

- Yes. I think it would make her happy.

- Thank you. I know it will.

- I'll get the tickets for Syracuse.

- Goodbye, Joe.

Hold it.

Would you like a stick of gum?

I answered this one two ways.

Yes and no.

- All right, Luther.

- Thanks.

I'm sorry, Patsy. Time is up.

May I come in?

Don't get up. I'm just the pastor here.

- Grading the papers?

- Yes.

- They're a wonderful bunch.

- Yes.

- You should be proud of them.

- We are.

I ran into some of the girls. They're

dying with curiosity about their marks.

I'm supposed to come in and, without

your knowing, see how they turned out.

I presume you opened your heart

and passed them all?

All but one, Father.

Patsy?

Oh, no.

This is only one subject.

The others are even worse.

Her average is below 60.

She got the date right

and spelled her name right.

Couldn't you give her something

on that and maybe pass her?

Don't you think the honour of the school

means anything?

What about Patsy? St Mary's

isn't being very much help to her.

Shouldn't we help a child like that?

She's beginning to believe in herself. A

blow like this... she may never get over it.

Do you believe in just passing everybody,

Father?

Maybe. Maybe I do.

- I can't believe you mean it.

- It's easier for some children.

They don't have to study.

Some get the best marks in school

and never made a mark afterwards.

I knew a character once.

A fellow named Elmer Hathaway.

We went through school together.

Or rather I went through school.

Elmer just stood still.

He was three years in eighth grade.

Quite a boy. The teacher wondered

how he found his way to school.

Sometimes he didn't.

The kids used to make fun of him.

He was sort of a dreamer.

Sometimes he'd forget what day it was

and come to school on Saturday.

They asked him who Plato was one day

and he said, "Plato who?"

But he was good with his hands.

He built a sailboat.

One time he disappeared

for two or three days.

When he came back they asked where

he'd been and he said, "Just sailing."

He got to be a foot taller

than anybody else in the class

and they felt sorry for him

and passed him.

I think they needed the desk.

He never knew, and from then on

he developed assurance.

- You've heard of Hathaway Shipyards?

- Yes.

That's Elmer. To this day

he takes care of his less fortunate pals.

The ones that used to get 99 and 100.

If any of them are broke or out of a job,

they can always work for Hathaway.

He's a good man.

By the way,

just what is passing, anyhow?

- 75. You know.

- Yes, I know that, but who started it?

Our school is based on it.

Without standards...

- Yes?

- But...

- You're not serious?

- I am.

Should we give the children

a helping hand or measure their brains?

Why do they have to have 75 to pass?

- You would pass them at 65?

- Why not?

Why not at 55? Why any grades at all?

- Why don't we close the school?

- Better than breaking their hearts.

That's unfair, Father.

My heart aches for Patsy. When

you infer it doesn't, you're being unjust.

I have done everything possible to help,

but I must uphold our standards.

If you order me to pass her, I shall do so.

But her mark remains the same.

- Come in, Patsy.

- Yes, Sister.

- Hello, Father.

- Patsy.

- I failed, didn't I, Sister?

- Yes, you did, Patsy.

- I thought so.

- I'm sorry.

That's all right. It wasn't your fault.

I was just thinking that...

I won't be needing this now,

and Delphine liked it so much.

I was just thinking that...

I was just thinking

that maybe I'll do better next year, Sister.

We have had differences of opinion

but they haven't been important.

This is serious.

I'm not going to order you to do anything.

It's up to you, but...

But she failed.

Hooray! Luther made one!

Give him a hand!

Here. On your toes.

Good shot!

I'll be right back.

I'll go with Sister.

- What's happened?

- Sister Benedict fainted.

- Did you call a doctor?

- She doesn't want one.

Come in.

The doctor's on his way.

- Who sent for a doctor?

- She did.

He's an informer.

- How are you feeling?

- All right.

Won't you sit down? I want to talk to you.

Excuse us.

- What have I done now?

- You've been writing.

Writing to Mother General.

Going over my head.

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