The First Legion

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1

Wonderful things, these new brakes.

And a lovely spring morning.

How are you, Father Fulton?

Well enough Monsignor.

It was all my fault.

I was in too much of a rush.

I missed my train last night.

You stayed over for a good

steak dinner, didn't you?

They don't feed you well

at your place, do they.

It was a concert. I meant to leave

before the last movement started but ..

Mr Toscanini and Mr Beethoven digging

away at the discipline of a Jesuit, huh?

No. This time it was Edvard Grieg.

His piano concerto.

Was it? Well, I'm a man who

likes words with his music .. songs.

That's what makes me merry.

Excuse me while I get my paper.

Father, aren't you the

man who gave up music?

Yes, I gave up my piano. Monsignor,

I wonder. I know it is out of your way.

Not a bit. Sure, step in. Step in.

Thank you, Monsignor.

Caesar .. Caesar. Down!

Down. Nothing wrong in helping a Jesuit.

Smell this spring. You smell it?

Ah, the old bones.

Every one of them begins

remembering this time of year.

Pollen. Never could stand the stuff.

Monsignor, I'm rather late.

There should be a law

against classrooms in spring.

Oh, Father Keene!

Father Keene, I called Father

Fulton and he's not in his room.

Again?

Very well. I shall take his class.

That's the third time this month.

He's missed his train again.

I shall have to speak to him about

those concerts. Excuse me, Paul.

The Jesuits embrace

certain basic disciplines.

The disciplines of mind,

body, prayer, work.

Fifteen years of study and preparation.

As the church counts time,

we are a very young society.

We are only four hundred years old.

And yet in that time, fourteen Popes

have received Jesuit training.

And we have given to the

church twenty-four Saints.

And now if .. ah ..

Good morning Father Fulton. I was just

starting to give your lecture for you.

I'm sorry Father Keene.

Yes, I know.

You missed your train again.

We'll say no more about it.

For now ..

He's not a good example for the students.

As Master of Novices I feel it

my duty to warn you of that.

With your permission, Father Rector ..

I shall take it as my duty to ask Father

Fulton several, very pointed questions.

No, I think we'll leave

that to father Arnoux.

What? Why not?

Before he joined us, he was a

remarkably successful lawyer.

This is hardly a legal matter.

Nor is it legal to condemn a man

before hearing his defense.

Oh, Brother Clifford.

Yes, Father Rector.

Will you ask Father Arnoux

to stop by and see me please.

Yes Father, yes .. a telegram.

Thank you .. one moment.

As a matter of fact, Father Arnoux is

coming to see me in a few minutes.

Good.

I'm having my own difficulties with him.

Is it anything serious?

He persists in writing articles

that I do not approve of.

Nor do I like the magazines

that publish what he says.

Brother Clifford, have someone meet

Father Quarterman at the station.

Father Quarterman?

Yes, she's stopping off here

on his way to the Far East.

Father Quarterman will be an inspiration

to your novices, Father Stuart.

Good, Father Rector. I'm sure we can all

do with a little inspiration these days.

Now as regards Father Fulton ..

And Father Arnoux. Yes.

For four centuries, we have been

known as the militant Jesuits.

The First Legion of the Lord.

Don't you feel that it's rather soon for

us to begin turning our swords inwards?

I have a great deal of

faith in Father Fulton.

And I shall continue to place

my trust in Father Arnoux.

I'll see him in your office as soon

as you've had your talk with him.

Very well, Father Rector.

I do not enjoy mutilating another

man's work, Father Arnoux.

I've left as much as my

conscience will allow.

Anyway, I see you've left the title.

"The Jesuits In The Modern World."

What have we to do with

the world as it is today?

The time for isolationism is

past, Father .. even in religion.

And may I ask, why did you take out this?

"Jesuits have no monopoly on faith."

What does it mean?

But surely, it is obvious. That we are

not the only people who believe in God.

Father Arnoux, why do you persist

in making things difficult for me?

Sorry if I seem to you ..

Good afternoon, Father Rector.

Father Arnoux.

Marc .. I'm worried about Father Fulton.

I have reason to believe that he

may be near the breaking point.

I don't believe ..

I know that in the spring we always tell

the novices that it's just spring fever.

Sometimes it is .. but this is different.

Father Fulton is no novice.

Spring fever has no

respect for rank or class.

Marc .. Marc, will you speak to him?

Frankly, I would prefer not to.

You know .. these are such

delicate matters .. and besides.

Fulton is my friend.

All the more reason, then.

Friends know each other. Know

each other's desires, ambitions.

I hope you won't give this to me

as a command, Father Rector.

And do you know .. I think I will.

I do.

Well, if you put it that way, of course

I have no choice but to obey.

Please, Father. Let me point out to you ..

The particular glory of the society

is that it chooses to obey.

Oh, thank you Father.

Thank you for reminding me.

No, never mind. I'll write another.

There it is. Now Johnny .. take it easy.

Come in.

Oh, hello Marc.

How about some handball this afternoon?

No, I don't think so.

Come on. A good workout after class.

That's right. When the flesh

is rebellious, slap it down.

I'm sorry Marc. Not for me, not today.

Well .. on a day like this ..

I get the feeling, that

either I let a lot of steam ..

Or I'll pull the walls down,

right on top of me.

And a new Samson was hailed in the land.

But where, oh were, was Delilah?

By this time not too young,

and probably. Very fat.

Thank you.

I don't think about her any more.

Oh, I do. Oh ..

Well, let's hear more.

Smile if you want to.

I suppose I broke her heart.

You know that still haunts me.

How old was she?

Not quite eighteen.

Well, she's forgotten it by now.

I hope so.

And yet I don't .. isn't that strange?

No, perfectly normal. Marc.

I'm tired of fighting devils real and

imaginary. I'd like to go home.

I mean the house where I came from.

The street where I used to play as a kid.

I'd like to be part of a real family again.

Well, you talk of leaving,

but what is it you're leaving?

You know, once a Priest, always a Priest.

I don't know, Marc.

All I know is I've got to stop somewhere.

I have to get away from this house.

I'll be regular about it. I'll write to

Father Provincial asking for my release.

But I'm not going to sit around waiting

for an answer. I'm leaving now. Tonight.

You know, Marc, it's pretty lonely

being a Soldier Of God all the time.

You too, Tom?

Yes, I'm like John.

I want a furlough. A long, long furlough.

I want to get out and stay out.

I'm dying in here while

the world passes me by.

It's not much of a world.

I'm not inclined to be

particular about it.

It's beautiful.

As you remember it.

The little part of the world that's

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