The Browning Version Page #7

Ah, yes, yes.

Must be a disappointment, sir.

Your wife... not being there

for your farewell speech.

And...

if I may be so bold, sir...

Well, what is it, Foster?

Well, I'd just

like to say

the old place won't be the same

without you, sir.

Well, thank you, Foster.

That's very kind of you.

Ah, hello, Foster.

Would you mind, uh...

there's a couple

of suitcases upstairs.

Thank you.

I think there's, uh,

just two more.

Well, I mustn't, uh, be late

for the Prize Giving.

No, eh...

You look very impressive.

Yes?

Good-bye.

Ah, Andrew,

there you are.

Right, follow me, everyone.

Headmaster, I must tell you

I've changed my mind.

I, uh, wish to speak second,

as is my right.

What about Mr. Fletcher?

Mr. Fletcher will

have to speak first.

But you promised yesterday.

Yes, but I now

see the matter

in an entirely

different light,

and, uh, today's today.

Uh, we're ready

for you now...

Just a second, please,

Trubshaw.

Look, if you speak second...

It'll be the most dreadful

anticlimax.

Be that as it may,

as senior master it is

my privilege to so do.

We agreed yesterday.

All right, follow me,

everyone.

The DeMill Prize

for French studies:

S.R. Ryan.

The Torkson Prize

for Excellence:

S. Trubshaw.

The Hanson Cup

for Biology:
E.R. Morris.

Ladies and gentlemen,

it is my painful duty

to listen with you

to a few sad words

from two masters

who are leaving us.

First, I shall call upon...

First, let us call upon

Mr. David Fletcher.

I thought you were

going to speak first.

Well, chaps...

I'm not much good, you know...

you know, on my feet,

except when I'm running

between the wickets.

So I'll just say

I'm really...

sad,

you know, to be leaving

this wonderful old place.

I've loved it here.

So, you know...

good luck and...

good-bye.

Now, three cheers

for David Fletcher!

Hip, hip...

Hooray!

Hip, hip...

Hooray!

Hip, hip...

Hooray!

And now...

Mr. Andrew Crocker-Harris.

Study of the classics,

in my view,

is a foundation

of our culture.

And culture is simply

an expression

of what is best in society.

Philosophy, decent government,

justice,

art, language.

Our classical heritage is

no longer valued.

And how can we help

meld civilized human beings...

if we no...

if we no longer believe

in civilization?

I am sorry.

I'm sorry because

I have deserved the epithet

"Hitler of the Lower Fifth."

I am sorry because I have failed

to give you

what it is your right

to demand of me as your teacher.

Sympathy,

encouragement,

humanity.

I have degraded the noblest

calling a man can follow...

the care and molding

of the young.

When I came to this school...

I still b-believed tha-that...

uh, that I...

I had a-a vocation for teaching.

I knew what I wanted to do,

and yet, I... I did not do it.

I can offer no excuses.

I have failed,

and miserably failed.

And I can only hope

that you can find it

in your hearts...

you and the countless others

who've gone before you...

to...

forgive me

for having let you down.

I shan't find it...

easy to forgive myself.

That is all.

Go on.

Sir?

Sir?

Taplow, boys.

Good-bye, sir.

Good-bye, Taplow.

Gentlemen.

Bye, sir.

Taplow?

Mm.

Well, it means

if you have any regard for me,

next term

you will kindly refrain

from blowing yourself up

when you switch to science.

Thank you, sir.

Yes! Well done, Taplow.

Thanks a lot.

Well done.

Well...

You'll miss your train.

I'll...

I'll write.

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