The Chocolate War Page #4

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What's the difference?

Hey, Goob, my legs are killing me.

Keep running.

God, you're crazy.

They say Brother Eugene hasn't been

the same since Room 19.

Rumors.

Hey, Goob, my lungs can't take this.

I know how he feels, Jerry.

Some people can't stand cruelty.

That was a really cruel thing to do

to a guy like Eugene, right?

What's Brother Eugene got to do

with not playing football?

There's something really rotten

in that school, Jerry.

Like the Vigils?

Yeah, that's part of it.

Anyway, I'm not playing football,

and I'm not going out for track

next spring, either.

Well, see, Jerry, it's what they did to us.

It's what they did to me that night

in that classroom.

I mean, I was crying like a goddamn baby.

And it's what they... It's what I did

to Brother Eugene's room, you know,

wrecking the room, wrecking him, in fact,

and now he's sitting...

Hey! Take it easy.

And it's what they're doing to you.

You know, the chocolates.

- Hello?

- You're in trouble, Archie.

What's the problem?

They're not selling.

The entire sale is in jeopardy.

- Well, how bad is it?

- Well, it could hardly be worse.

Sales are virtually at a standstill.

You...

You're not being very effective, Archie.

You mean the finances are bad?

Listen. I think Leon's in deep trouble.

I overheard him talking on the phone.

- I think it was with the school board.

- And?

I think Leon bought the extra chocolates

with money he wasn't supposed to use.

He was gonna show off for the board.

Now the sale's going bad,

and his chance of becoming Head's on the line.

Maybe even his job.

I thought you had influence, Archie.

You and your friends.

It's not my sale, Brother Leon.

You played games with that freshman Renault,

and now the game has backfired.

You got yourself involved.

Wait a minute. Last year,

you barely sold all the chocolates.

And that was half as many at half the price.

The kids are tired of selling.

That's why your sale is falling apart,

not my games.

Archie, I don't care if it's Renault,

or your precious organization,

or the state of the economy.

I want the chocolates sold.

Any ideas how?

Perhaps you should begin with Renault.

He's become some kind of symbol.

I think he should be made to say yes

instead of no.

And the Vigils should...

Yes, I'm saying the name aloud.

The Vigils must throw

their full weight behind the sale.

It's quite an order, Brother.

You've picked the right word, Archie.

'Order.' It is an order.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

I'll make it crystal clear, Archibald.

If the sale goes down the drain,

you and the Vigils go down the drain.

We all go down the drain together.

I'm over here, Obie.

Hey, Arch.

What do you want, Obe?

Oh, and, by the way, I don't appreciate

anyone going in my locker.

Now, this is important.

Remember that kid Renault?

- He's still not selling the chocolates.

- So?

So, his orders were not to sell them

for 10 days.

The 10 days are up,

and he's still saying no.

- So what?

- Well, here's the deal.

A lot of kids think the Vigils are in on it

and that Renault is still on assignment.

And then there's some kids

who know the assignment's over

and think Renault is leading

some kind of revolt.

- What are you talking about?

- Look...

Look, you told the kid not to sell

the chocolates for 10 days, right?

Well, he's gone past that.

The assignment's over.

He's defying the Vigils, Archie,

and a lot of guys know about it.

This is what I want you to do.

Check up on the sale and get the figures.

Then I want you to arrange for Renault

to appear before the Vigils.

Another thing.

Didn't you promise Leon

that we'd back him in the sale?

Hey, Obie,

you let me worry about Leon.

You just go run your little errands.

You can go now.

Renault.

Have a chocolate?

They're good.

Delicious.

And only $4 a box. That's a bargain.

But you wouldn't know about the price,

would you, Renault?

How many boxes have you sold, Renault?

- None.

- None?

Hey, Porter, how many boxes have you sold?

- Twenty-one.

- Twenty-one? Wow!

Hey, Porter, you must be one of those

eager-beaver freshmen, huh?

- I'm a senior.

- A senior?

You're a bigshot senior, a Vigil,

and you still have enough spirit

to sell all those chocolates?

Beautiful.

Anyone else here sell chocolates?

- Forty-two.

- Thirty-three.

- Twenty.

- Forty-five.

But you, Renault, a new student,

a freshman who should be filled

with the spirit of Trinity,

you haven't sold any.

Nothing.

Mind if I ask why?

It's personal.

Nothing is personal here, Renault.

There's no secrets here.

Hey, Porter, how many times you jack off a day?

- Twice.

- See?

There's no secrets here. Not in the Vigils.

Come on, you can tell me.

Let's go, Archie.

Playtime is over.

Why aren't you selling?

- I don't want to.

- You don't want to?

Hey, Obie, did you want to come

to school today?

Hell, no.

But you came to school today, didn't you?

Hell, yes.

You see? We've all gotta do things

that we don't wanna do.

Okay, Renault, here's your assignment.

Tomorrow morning at roll call,

you take the chocolates.

You say, 'Brother Leon,

I proudly accept the chocolates.'

We're letting you off easy.

You've disobeyed the Vigils.

That usually calls for punishment.

Now, the Vigils don't believe

in physical violence,

but we can make your life very bad.

Very sad.

We're letting you off easy.

We're just asking you

to take the chocolates and sell them.

We're not asking, Archie. We're telling.

Dismissed.

Hi.

You were right.

I just wanted to say that.

My name is Jerry.

Renault?

No.

Hello?

Who is this?

This isn't funny.

I'm not scared. You know...

Hello?

Who is it?

Nobody.

The same goddamn thing happened last night.

Some idiot on the other end of the line,

laughing like it's the biggest joke

in the world.

Your name?

Come on, Archie, you know my name.

Cut the crap, Bollo.

Let's hear your name.

My name is Frankie Bollo. What's yours?

You think you're a big shot, don't you?

- A big shot.

- You said it, not me.

Well, we like big shots, don't we?

You see, our specialty is

turning big shots into little shots.

Cut the sh*t, Archie.

You're not impressing anyone.

What did you say?

Hey, guys,

I'm not some scared little kid

who pisses his pants

because the big, bad Vigils

invite him to an inquisition.

Hell, you guys couldn't even scare

a punk freshman

into selling your lousy f***ing...

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Get him out of here.

- Come on.

Come on.

- Yeah.

See you later, Bollo.

Quiet down. Quiet down.

Shut up. Quiet. Sit down.

We're at a moment of truth here, Archie.

When a punk like Bollo comes in here

and challenges the Vigils,

there's something wrong!

Now, we can't afford this.

Word will spread,

and the Vigils will be history.

You know what's wrong here? We are.

- How come we're wrong?

- Two reasons.

First, because we allowed our name

to get connected

with the goddamn chocolate sale,

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