The Education of Charlie Banks Page #4

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"the sad truth is that most evil

is done by people

who never make up their minds

to be either good or evil."

Good.

But what is she

specifically referring to

with the phrase

"the banality of evil"?

Charlie Banks.

She was referring to Eichmann

and the point that he was not

some kind of mad monster,

despite the nature

of his atrocities,

but some poor jerk whose

humanity and instincts were dulled

by the massive

bureaucracy of the Nazis.

Yeah.

Yes, but I'd like to take that

down the road

just a little bit

in asking you guys--

what are the truest forms

of evil?

Hang on.

And are those forms always the ones

which cause death?

What about child molesters?

What else?

Cheap seats.

A rat.

Professor:
Why? Betrayal?

Because a rat just

complicates a simple thing.

(bell ringing)

Food for thought, folks.

Food for thought.

- Charlie.

- What?

What's wrong with you?

Nothing.

That was cool.

He's a heavy guy-- Professor Gersten.

Yeah yeah, he's great.

You looked smart in there too.

Thanks, man.

Man, if I knew college was gonna be

this interesting,

I might have paid a little bit more

attention in school.

Why didn't you?

Schoolwork wasn't a priority

in my house.

No? What was?

Hey, who are you,

the Spanish f***ing Inquisition?

Huh?

Curious f***ing George--

that's you, right?

Now that little bastard was always

getting into some f***ed-up sh*t,

wasn't he, instead of minding

his own f***ing business?

Yeah.

My mother used to read it to me

when I used to go visit her.

You're just dying to ask me

where I went to go visit her,

aren't you, Charlie?

Yeah, it crossed my mind.

- Oh oh, it did cross your mind?

- Yeah.

That's hysterical.

It crossed your mind

like a little baby duck crossing

the road to go swimming in the pond?

You know, f*** you.

Quack quack, Charlie.

Come on, let's get something to eat.

I'm starving.

That's embarrassing.

Sorry to do this to you,

but I have nothing, actually.

You are seriously the worst

f***ing poker player.

- Charlie, you really do suck.

- I exaggerate a little bit.

It's a good thing you don't have

a trust fund.

- Yeah, good thing, huh, Daddy?

- A great thing.

Hey, where did you learn

how to play cards?

You're throwing money away here.

I learned downtown

with wiseguys.

Downtown with Fat Tommy?

Fat Tommy and Uncle Joe.

- That's where you're from?

- That's where I'm from.

You don't look like

a wiseguy to me.

Yeah? What's a wiseguy

look like?

Your friend Mick.

My friend Mick. Have you ever

been to New York City, Antigone?

You know what? I like this.

This is really adorable.

- Shut the f*** up.

- No. Right, Mary?

You're pretty cute.

Excuse me.

Get out of here,

you broccoli head.

Find anything?

Oh, hey. No no, not at all.

Nothing I really want.

Tell me about it.

How does he even

live this way?

Leo's life is unimaginable

for anyone except Leo.

Yeah, you're right.

Yeah, exactly.

It does seem to work

for him, though.

So tell me about Mick.

Mick?

You know what? I don't even know

what he's been up to recently.

He's cool

but different, you know?

Yeah. No, he's definitely--

he's definitely different.

What?

What?

Nothing.

Charlie, what?

Are you holding out on me?

Actually, I have to go

to the bathroom. Excuse me.

- You're adorable when you sulk.

- F*** you.

- Sorry, I was looking for the bathroom.

- Hey, come here.

- Look at this.

- Yeah.

How great is this, huh?

Jesus. Yeah.

I'm very adaptable,

or so I've been told.

Ooh, wait.

- Here, take these. Put them on.

- Oh, sh*t.

They're plain glass. Some drama major

left them here one morning,

hoping that I'd invite her back

to retrieve 'em.

That's amazing.

It's pretty good.

You know,

no one would ever know.

Know what?

Oh, that he wasn't--

you know,

that he wasn't some--

I mean, that you weren't

some preppy kid from Connecticut.

Take these, actually.

Take it all.

I'm into a new thing anyway.

So if you only pack for a weekend,

you might as well

have some things

if you stay for a bit, huh?

- All right. Thanks, man.

- Mary:
Your deal, Leo.

Yes, I'm coming.

You have a tie as a belt.

Yes, it's the new thing.

All right.

Hey, what's wrong?

You losing again?

Yeah, every hand.

- Sit down.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- All right.

It's all in the eyes.

I'm telling you. You know

why no one ever calls my hand?

Why?

Because I have

a royal straight flush

working every time

right here.

- Let's see it.

- What?

Give me four aces, Charlie.

You can do it.

- No, man.

- Hey, you want to win or not?

- Yeah. All right.

- All right, let's see it.

All right. How's this?

Wrong. No, you see,

you're telling me

how dangerous you are,

but you want to dare me

to find out for myself.

Right. Okay, yeah, that's right.

All right. Okay, all right.

How's this?

Now you look like you're

confused or something.

I feel confused.

Right, yeah yeah.

Well, it shows.

Just...

- Keep working on it. Yeah.

- Yeah?

(sighs)

I feel like a new man.

Mary:
Wow, you look good.

Mick:
Yes, thank you, thank you.

I'll have to footnote you.

Charlie:
Man, Nia's great.

You know you like her.

Mick:
Yeah, seriously,

what the f*** is your problem?

Charlie:
He's got this insane

romantic xenophobia.

What the f*** does that mean?

You know, she says "to-may-to"

and he says "to-mah-to."

What the hell are you

talking about?

To-mah-toes.

You're like a bunch of f***ing girls.

Shut up.

Charlie:
Okay. I think

he's retarded, seriously.

I gotta take a leak.

(police radio chatter,

car passes by)

I can't go when you guys

are watching me.

Charlie is a pervert.

- Hey.

- Hey.

How much did you end up winning

in the last couple of hours?

Yeah?

- Yeah.

- Good for you.

Hey, why do you think

Mick was hiding from the cops?

I don't know.

It's probably that old

paranoia, you know?

You know, Mick just gets weird

around cops.

Yeah, probably.

(coughs)

Hey. I'm tired.

- Hey, Charlie.

- Hi.

- What are you working on?

- I got a paper due on "Gatsby."

Oh, God, I love that book.

Yeah, I know, the ending

kills me, though.

You knew it was coming

the first time you read it.

Yeah, I know, but that's what

makes it so wonderfully tragic.

Right right. It's inevitable,

but you hope against hope.

Yeah.

Hey, want to join our little

study club?

No, thanks.

I gotta get to work.

But you kids have fun.

Hey. Hey. Hey.

- What?

- What are you doing?

- (gasps)

- Stop.

- Mary, did you tag the library?

- Stop. Stop.

- Does this say your name?

- If you write my name, I'll kill you.

Mick, stop, please.

(laughing)

- That's not funny.

- You're gonna get into trouble.

Stop. I can't believe you did that.

I didn't do that.

It says "Mary" right there.

What are you doing?

How do you explain the pen

in your bag?

Come here. You look ridiculous.

- All right, pay attention.

- Okay.

Make sure this is straight.

Okay.

Loop that with that. There.

Just make sure it stays even.

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