The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Page #4

without Miss Brodie?

I could wish

your arithmetic papers were better.

Culture is no compensation

for lack ofhard knowledge.

I'm happy to see you are devoted

to Miss Brodie.

Your loyalty is also

due to the school.

I'm always impressed

by Miss Brodie's girls...

in one way or another.

Benito Mussolini

is a great man.

He began life

as a journalist...

a man of learning,

an intellectual...

but he is also

a man of action.

He has made Capri

into a sanctuary for birds.

A simple act of goodness.

If you all turn to page 25 of your

geography books,you'll find a map of Capri.

It's off the coast of Naples.

It is because of II Duce

thousands of birds live and sing there today...

that might well have ended

their careers on a piece of toast.

Miss Gaunt,

is there something you wanted?

Thank you.

"Dear Miss Brodie,

I hope it will be convenient for you...

"to see me in my office

this afternoon at 4:15.

Emmaline Mackay".

4:
15. Not 4:00.

Not 4:
30, but 4:15.

She thinks to intimidate me,

by the use of quarter hours.

Now, as I was

attempting to say...

Benito Mussolini

is indeed a man of action.

Come in.

4:
15. I was afraid

I might be late, or early.

Not at all.

You are most punctilious.

Thank you

for finding the time.

I know how busy

your girls keep you.

- Please, sit down.

- Oh. Thank you.

What a colorful frock.

Color enlivens the spirit,

does it not?

Perhaps you're right, though I wonder

if the spirits of the girls need enlivening.

Oh, indeed they do!

My credo is,

"Lift, enliven, stimulate"

No doubt.

But the Marcia Blaine School...

is essentially

a conservative school.

We do not encourage

the, uh, progressive attitudes.

Now, Miss Brodie,

I have noticed...

a spirit of precocity among your girls...

your special girls.

- Why, thank you.

- Oh.

I am in my prime...

and my girls are

benefiting from it.

I'm proud to think that perhaps

my girls are more aware.

- Precisely. Now...

- To me, education is a leading out.

The word education comes

from the root "ex", meaning "out",

and "duco":
"I lead".

To me, education is simply a...

a leading out...

of what is

already there.

I had hoped there might also be

a certain amount of putting in.

That would not be education,

but intrusion...

from the root prefix "in",

meaning "in",

and the stem "trudo": "I thrust".

Ergo, to thrust a lot

of information into a pupil's head.

To discuss education with such

a dedicated teacher...

is always instructive.

However, it was not for that reason

I asked you to come here.

Miss Brodie...

I am told that you make

weekly expeditions to Cramond.

Yes. Isn't it

a lovely spot?

It is, indeed.

I believe Mr. Lowther inherited

the estate from his mother.

He's lived there

all his life.

Mr. Lowther is not

a worldly man...

not a reckless man.

It is doubtful whether he would

recognize recklessness in others.

And recklessness

is an indulgence...

that we at Marcia Blaine

must eschew...

not only within our walls,

but in the personal life...

the conduct, as it were,

of the teaching staff.

Oh, Miss Mackay...

I do not believe I have

ever fully appreciated...

the taxing load of trivia...

with which a headmistress

must concern herself.

I must concern myself, Miss Brodie,

with this school's board of governors.

I flatter myself that I am not

unknown to the board...

having been a member

of the staff of Marcia Blaine...

six years prior

to your engagement, Miss Mackay.

I feel quite safe in saying...

that no member of the board

has ever shown anything...

but appreciation and approval

of my teaching methods.

Oh! Oh, Miss Mackay...

I use the woods of Cramond

for lessons in botany...

the rocks of the shore to investigate

the mysteries of geology.

It should be patently clear

that my expeditions to Cramond...

are expeditions for enrichment.

Enrichment for my girls...

and for Marcia Blaine.

Well.

Thank you, Miss Brodie.

I feel sure you and I have come

to understand each other better.

I'm always

at your command, Miss Mackay.

I am delighted

to hear it.

Good day, Miss Brodie.

Oh, chrysanthemums.

Such serviceable flowers.

Mmm.

May I have a word with you,

Miss Gaunt?

Miss Gaunt, you are, of course,

aware of the problem...

when a teacher has tenure

and the loyalty of her pupils.

It's not going to

be easy, Miss Gaunt.

However, no doubt,

in due time...

some advantage will

be vouchsafed us.

In the meanwhile, I would deem it

a sincere service to the school...

if any indiscretion

that might reach your ears...

should also reach mine.

Also, your brother...

is a deacon of Cramond Kirk,

is he not...

and naturally eager

to preserve its sanctity?

Thank you, Miss Gaunt.

What are you writing?

"My dear, delightful Gordon...

your letter has moved me deeply,

as you may imagine.

But, alas, I must ever decline

to be Mrs. Lowther.

My reasons

are twofold...

I am dedicated to my girls,

as is madame Pavlova...

and there is another

in my life.

He is Teddy Lloyd".

Here. Let me. Let me.

"But we can still have...

many a breezy day

in the fishing boat...

at sea".

- Shh!

- What are you two girls up to?

Gather your things together,

and leave at once.

This is a library,

not a fun fair!

- Are those your books?

- No, Miss McKenzie.

I want you to remember, girls...

that it is

of primary importance...

that the upper

and lower tensions...

are perfectly even.

And secondly, girls,

it is most important...

to ensure that

you are using...

the correct length

of stitch.

If we were to fill this room

with the hydrogen being made in thesejars...

and then

strike a match...

there'd be an explosion large enough

to reduce this building to rubble.

Look. I'll show you.

Hey,Johnnie Cope

are ye waukin' yet

Or are your drums

a-beatin' yet

If ye were waukin'

I wad wait

To gang to the coals

in the mornin'

All together now.

Hey,Johnnie Cope

are ye waukin' yet

Or are your drums

a-beatin' yet

If ye were waukin'

I wad wait

To gang to the coals

in the mornin'

The sun!

Forsooth, we are renewed.

Refreshment alfresco.

Enough to go round,

but the lion's share for Mr. Lowther.

This term, I have sworn

to fatten Mr. Lowther...

by a full half-stone.

That is my pledge.

Did I neglect to tell you girls that once,

on leave from the war...

Hugh took me out sailing

on a fishing boat.

We spent our happiest times among

the rocks and pebbles of a small seaport.

Sometimes Hugh would sing.

He had a rich tenor voice.

At other times, he would set up

his easel and paint.

Hugh was very talented

in both arts...

but I think...

I think the painter

was the real Hugh.

But you girls

are my life now.

I am the potter,

and you are my pride.

You are shaping up.

Soon you will graduate

to the senior school...

and I will no longer

teach you...

but you will always be

Brodie girls.

Ah! Here comes

our Mr. Lowther.

"Our minstrel sweet,

oh, synge unto me roundelaie.

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