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which I had seemed unable to give her--

was so important that its absence

would drive out the other kind of love...

the kind of love I require and --

and which I had thought,

in my folly...

was by far the greater part of love.

You see, Hunter, I may have been

a very brilliant scholar...

but I was woefully ignorant

of the facts of life.

I know better now, of course.

I know now that the love we should have

borne each other has turned into a bitter hatred.

And that's all the problem is.

Not a very unusual one,

I venture to imagine, nor--

nor half so tragic

as you seem to think.

Merely the problem of an unsatisfied wife

and a henpecked husband.

You'll find it all over the world.

It is usually, I believe,

a subject for farce.

[ Door Opens ]

I've been sent to get you

all out in the garden.

Where are the others?

In the billiard room.

Headmaster, the fireworks

are just about to start.

Thank you, my dear. Come along in.

I'll show you an exquisite shot.

[ Door Closes ]

Look, don't leave

when she does tomorrow.

Stay here until you go to your new job.

I am not interested in your advice.

All right. You must do as you think best,

but I'd just like you to know that...

although I know you don't want my pity,

I would like to be of some help.

If you think by this expression

of kindness, Hunter...

that you will get me to repeat that shameful

exhibition of emotion I made in front ofTaplow...

I can assure you you have no chance.

My hysteria over that book

was no more than a sort of...

reflex action of the spirit,

the muscular twitchings of a corpse.

- It cannot happen again.

- A corpse can be revived.

I do not believe in miracles.

Don't you?

Funnily enough, as a scientist, I do.

Your faith would be touching,

if I were capable of being touched by it.

You are, I think.

- I'd like to visit you in your new school.

- That is an absurd suggestion.

Let's see. Your term starts

September the 1 st, doesn't it?

- I think I could manage --

- I tell you, the idea is quite childish.

September the 1 2th.

Now, how would that be?

You would be bored to death,

and so probably would I.

Let's say Monday,

September the 1 2th then, shall we?

Say whatever you like,

only leave me alone, Hunter.

Please, leave me alone.

Monday, September the 1 2th.

You'll remember that?

I suppose I'm at least as likely

to remember it as you are.

Fine.

[ Door Opens ]

[ Frank ]

By the way,you'd better give me your address.

The Old Deanery.

- The Old Deanery.

- Malcombe.

- Malcombe.

- Dorset.

Dorset. I'll look up the trains.

- Well!

- [ Headmaster ] We might finish the game later.

This is the quickest way, Mrs. Crocker-Harris,

through the French windows.

Come along.

After you, Crocker-Harris.

- Thank you, Headmaster.

- Come along, Canon.

- [ Fireworks Exploding ]

- [ Mrs. Frobisher ] Oh, how lovely.

Isn't that lovely, dear?

Come along, Mrs. Carstairs.

I think we can see over there better.

Well, that's a laugh, I must say.

What is a laugh, my dear?

You inviting him to stay with you.

No, I -- I didn't invite him.

He suggested it himself.

He's coming to Bradford.

Yes, I remember your telling me so.

He's coming to Bradford.

He's not going to you.

The likeliest contingency

is that he's not going to either of us.

He's coming to Bradford.

Yes, I expect so.

- By the way, I am not.

- What?

I am not going away

with you tomorrow.

I'm going to stay here

until I take up my new post.

Oh, are you?

And what makes you think

I'll join you there?

- I don't.

- You needn't expect me.

I don't think that either of us

has any longer the right...

to expect anything further

from the other.

[ Millie ]

Yes. Yes, I know about that, but--

Of course.

Yes, but --

But Mr. Hunter can't have gone out yet.

Did you give him my message?

[ Tapping ]

Oh.

Oh, Mrs. Crocker-Harris,

I'm sorry I dashed in through the garden...

but Mr. Hunter was most anxious

you should have this before you leave.

Well, good-bye,

Mrs. Crocker-Harris.

Good-bye, Taplow.

[ Car Engine Starts ]

[ Engine Idling ]

[ Horn Honks ]

[ Horn Honks ]

[ Car Door Closes ]

[ Engine Revs, Car Departs ]

[ Clock Chiming ]

[ Crowd Murmuring ]

Well, General,

I think we can begin now.

- Headmaster.

- Hmm?

I must tell you

that I intend to make my speech after...

instead of before Fletcher,

as is my privilege.

But my dear chap,

yesterday we agreed.

Yes, Headmaster, but I now see the matter

in an entirely different light.

But remember what I told you about

the need for working up to a climax.

I do remember, Headmaster,

but, you see, I am of the opinion...

that occasionally an anticlimax

can be surprisingly effective.

[ Whispering ]

Ladies and gentlemen...

before I call upon

General Lord Baxter of Ethiopia...

who's going to present our prizes...

it's my sad and painful duty...

to listen with you

to a few words of farewell...

from two masters who are leaving us.

First, I'll call upon Mr. --

[ Clears Throat ]

First then,

let's hear from Mr. Fletcher, shall we?

[ Applause ]

[ Cheering ]

[ Applause, Cheering Stop ]

Well, chaps, I never was

much good on my hind legs...

except perhaps at running with them.

- [ Laughter ]

- In fact, I shall feel much less nervous today...

facing the Australians

than I am on this platform.

So just let me say

what I have to say in a single sentence...

and then let me relax

and enjoy myself with you listening to...

Mr. Crocker-Harris's gilded

and classical epigrams.

- [ Laughter]

- Good-bye, good luck...

and let's win the public school sports

again next year.

[ Applause ]

[ Cheering ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

And now Mr. Crocker-Harris.

[ Scattered Applause ]

[ Applause Stops ]

A valedictory address...

as those of you who have read

your Plato's Apology will remember...

can be of inordinate length.

But as I...

unhappily, am not Socrates...

and as I have often believed that...

''vita longa, ars brevis''...

is a more suitable apothegm

than the one in more general use...

[ Chuckles ]

and in connection

with the word brevitas...

it is, I think, of some small interest --

It is, I think,

of some small interest --

You must excuse me.

I had prepared a speech...

but I find now that...

I have nothing to say.

Or rather,

I have three very small words...

but they are most deeply felt.

They are these:

I am sorry.

I am sorry...

because I have failed to give you...

what you had the right

to demand of me as your teacher:

sympathy, encouragement and...

humanity.

I'm sorry because

I have deserved the nickname of Himmler.

And because, by so doing...

I have degraded the noblest calling...

that a man can follow:

the care and molding of the young.

I claim no excuses.

When I came here, I --

I knew what I had to do, and...

I have not done it.

I have failed. And...

miserably failed.

But I can only hope that you...

and the countless others...

who have gone before...

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