A Separate Peace (2004) - full transcript
Strong friendship between students slowly turns into bitter rivalry with fatal consequences.
All right, get them.
We're all here now.
The trial can commence.
What is this, some kind of joke?
It's no joke, Phineas.
Gene's on trial here.
For what?
Are you guys crazy?
Let's go. They can have
their fun and games without us.
No, this is the time for truth.
-Let's begin at the beginning, shall we?
-Wait a minute.
Gene Forrester,
you've been brought here to stand trial--
You're kidding, right?
I'm dead serious.
This is an investigation.
What's there to investigate?
I can't believe I made it to Devon.
My God,
everything I worked so hard for.
This'll be the first time
a Forrester ever had the opportunity...
to make something of himself.
I'm finally gonna be someone important.
To be on the same level
as these rich kids.
I have a real chance.
Come in.
They said you'd get here last night.
I've been waiting.
-Yeah, the train took forever.
-Anyway, here you are.
-Gene Forrester.
-Finny.
How tall are you?
-Five-foot-nine.
-Five-foot-eight-and-a-half.
Never lie about your height.
When's your birthday?
-October 19.
-Mine's the 21st.
-We're almost twins.
-Not quite.
-Come on, I'll help you with your stuff.
-That's okay. I'll take care of it.
Sure. That's your side of the room.
You'll love Devon.
Best school in the world.
My family's gone here for centuries.
They'll never get rid of us.
Did your mother pack for you?
| can't believe anyone could be so neat.
| packed.
Where you from, anyway?
That accent sounds--
I'm from--
Brinker's listening
to that goddamn Hitler again.
Six times a day over that radio of his!
Come on, I'll introduce you.
But | should....
You can unpack later.
Brinker won't bite.
He's very friendly, really.
Once you get to know him.
Brinker Hadley, hub of the class,
king of all knowledge...
the brainiest, brightest.... Meet
Gene Forrester, my new roommate.
And turn that bastard off, s'il vous plait.
You'll never pass French
at that rate, Phineas.
-So you're the lucky one this week?
-Shut up, Brink.
He doesn't know
what he's talking about.
Yes, he does.
Finny's a shining light around here.
-Except for his lousy French.
-Would you like to see my snail house?
Your what?
Leper Lepellier's a collector.
Because of him...
we have a first-rate snail collection
right here in Holmes House.
One night we're gonna make them
into escargots bourguignon.
You wouldn't.
I'd be most interested
to see a snail house.
"Most interested?”
Boy, where are you from?
| thought they only talked like that
in moving pictures.
Don't listen to him.
Let's hear about that snail house.
-He's been working on it for weeks.
-Mr. Forrester, do you--
No, don't push it, Lepellier.
You might lose a possible ally here.
Go on, Gene,
don't let that bully stop you.
I'd like to see it, really.
What bully? | don't know
what you're talking about. Shoot!
Well, there it is.
God.
It's got all these floors,
all these nooks and crannies.
Complete privacy.
But they can be together if they want.
That way they stay peaceful,
don't fight, like us.
Oh, you wish.
Wow, Lep.
| didn't know you had it in you.
| did. Absolutely.
Lepellier, you're a genius.
-Well, what do we call it?
-Bomberball.
-Gene?
-Devonball?
Blitzball.
Perfect, Lep.
That's a perfect name for a perfect ball.
Catch. Run.
Run, Forrester.
Not that way. Towards the lake.
Come on. Let's go.
Get him down.
I can't knock him down,
he's on my team.
There are no teams in Blitzball.
Get him.
Not me. Don't give it to me.
-Here!
-Don't give it to me!
Lep, you gotta take the ball,
it's part of the game.
What game? Finny's just making
the whole thing up as usual.
We're all enemies in Blitzball.
Ready to turn on each other
at any minute.
Leper...
just demonstrated a crucial move:
the Lepellier Refusal.
Let's see what the greatest enemy of all
will do.
Here, Gene!
-Why are they jumping out of that tree?
-Let's join them.
Finny, always so impatient.
It's for seniors, the draft bait.
It's physical training
in preparation for war.
They're practicing
jumping out of the troopships.
That's what we want to do, right, Gene?
-Well, I....
-Look, there's Fitzwinkle.
-God, he's ancient.
-He's Fitzwinkling away before our eyes.
The Army doesn't get him,
those seniors will.
And there"ll be no one left
to teach us a thing.
We'll just have to make it through
on our own, won't we, my friend?
Well, I'm not waiting another minute.
Who's coming with me?
-Are you nuts?
-It's a snap, Brink.
-Fin, you know it's forbidden.
-When have we ever let that stop us?
Not you. Nothing ever stops you.
Come on, Brink. Break the rules
for once in your perfectly organized life.
No, you go ahead
and kill yourself if you want. Not me.
Fin?
You really think you should do this?
With any luck,
they'll accelerate us for the war.
Lower the draft. That's you, Lep.
Gene and me in October.
Brink, you're December.
We need to be ready.
-Fin.
-Forget it.
Don't worry, I'm almost there.
Here goes.
Who's next?
Brinker? | can count on you.
-Not this time.
-Lep?
I'll go.
Great.
Oh, my God.
-Come out further.
-l can't.
Further!
What are you waiting for?
They just torpedoed the troopship.
Jump!
Nice work.
| knew you could do it...
from that first moment
when you walked into our room.
You know, you're good.
A good athlete, but look how you walk.
We gotta get that West Point stride
out of your system.
-What's wrong with the way | walk?
-Nothing. It's just....
-It's the way | was raised.
-Rules and regulations, huh?
-Rules are meant to be broken.
-Not in my family.
My family doesn't give a hoot
about what | do.
Yeah? Well, you're lucky that way.
You're brave, buddy.
You just need some looking after.
Much goes on here at Devon
we can't control, Mr. Forrester.
You're new here, so....
How shall | put this?
Your work is not yet at the level of....
Well, you simply haven't had
the advantages of the other boys....
But Summer Session or not,
this is school, not camp.
So, study hard.
And, yes, you have a long road ahead.
Hey, where you going?
Boys, could you please keep it down
for one evening?
You'll get into trouble.
Big trouble from the big man!
The big man will learn of this and....
I think | hear him coming now.
Yes, sir, Kommandant! | understand
you don't like the music! | will be--
Oh, you do like the music?
| will be sure and make sure the--
You want to dance?
Well, go ahead, Herr Kommandant.
Don't let me stop you.
-What in the hell is that?
-A shirt, dummy.
-Haven't you ever seen one before?
-Not in that color.
You're not really gonna wear that,
are you?
Why not? | like it.
-People might think you're....
-Who cares what people think?
| don't, do you?
But not to the Headmaster's tea.
| mean, you're not really gonna wear it
there, are you?
Actually, | think it's quite right
for the Headmaster to me.
Very right for high tea, in fact.
Today's a celebration.
Yeah, for what?
Don't tell me you missed
the 8:00 a.m. news report?
Roosevelt said there's four million
Americans in the military.
| can't wait.
Really?
Research shows us it's a matter of fact.
| say we bomb the living daylights out of
them, don't you, Professor Carmichael?
Well, | don't know
that I'd go as far as all that.
Except for the women and children,
of course. And the old people.
And the works of art.
How do you propose
our boys be so precise...
from thousands of feet in the air,
my dear?
| agree with Mrs. Carmichael.
For God's sake,
let's preserve the works of art.
If it were up to me,
I'd be on my way over there tonight.
| wish to God | could be.
Goodness.
That's quite a shirt you're wearing there,
my boy.
Mother just sent it out to me today...
but it couldn't have arrived
at a better time.
-Why is that?
-For our celebration, of course.
The traditional term tea,
which just happens to coincide...
with us having four million Americans
serve our country.
-l wore it as an emblem.
-Wait, isn't that....
Oh, God.
| must have put it on in my excitement.
Sacrilege.
But it all ties together...
because what happens here at Devon...
is connected
with what happens in the war.
And don't you think today's news
and tea are worthy of the Devon tie?
I'm glad | wore something, though.
| could have lost my pants
right in the middle of our tea.
That wouldn't have been good.
Not in front of you and the Headmaster.
Everything.
You got away with everything.
-Disappointed?
-No, it's just....
| mean, they're teachers,
for God's sake. He's the Headmaster.
So what?
They're just people like you and me.
You mean you always respected
your teachers?
| had to. | wouldn't be here otherwise.
I need to clear out my head.
All that talking....
Yeah, who did most of it?
Not me.
ll don't know who you're talking about.
After you.
Yeah, sure.
We can lick this tree
any old time, right?
Right for me.
ll don't know about you, though.
-So you're not scared anymore?
-Not me.
Must be thinking of someone else.
Take it easy, bud. There's no rush.
You don't gotta tell me.
| know this tree by--
-Thanks.
-Anytime, pal.
| got a great idea.
A secret society.
You and me are charter members.
Anyone who wants to join
has to make the plunge.
-A secret suicide society, you mean.
-A super-secret suicide society.
We'll celebrate at the Devon Diner.
| still have those irregular French verbs.
Don't worry, I'll teach you every verb
you need to know...
over les best French fries
dans le New England.
That's the craziest thing I've ever heard.
There are real rules to this game.
You can't just make them up.
You're always so concerned
about rules, Brink.
Someone has to be,
or the world would go haywire.
Let it.
That's you, all right. Forrester
and | know differently though, don't we?
Let him alone, Brink.
He's concentrating.
"And the gods shook,
they knew not why."
It's a game, isn't it?
A game we all want to play.
Well, especially you.
You always want to play.
That's your life.
But.... Wait, what's going on?
Phineas just won the hand, Brinker.
While you were talking.
-Finny always wins.
-Yeah, so I've noticed.
Winner today, winner tomorrow.
-What is that, an old Vermont maxim?
-What? What's a maxim?
What you just....
What's a Lepellier,
that's what I'd like to know?
Isn't it about that time? Come on.
Come on, everyone. Time to jump.
Come on, Sacks.
All right, I'm ready. Give me a second.
-Let's go, Harry.
-Hold on.
-Let's go, Rach.
-We'll be right there.
-Come on, we're gonna do the jump.
-Come on, Gene.
Let's go everybody.
-You gonna jump?
-1 like to watch.
Excellent, Forrester.
| knew you could do it.
Keep it up and we'll all be proud of you.
Here you go.
-That's my paper.
-Another "A," boy, oh, boy.
Well, no math today, mon ami.
We've got bigger things to do.
Sorry, | gotta go to class.
You don't need that watch,
you're your own ticking clock.
Tick, tick, ticking away. Come on,
we need to calm that ever busy brain.
Wasn't this a great idea?
You gotta trust me.
There's still that test tomorrow.
Tick, tick, ticking again? You'll do fine.
-Hey! Finny, who's A. Hopkins Parker?
-Who?
A. Hopkins Parker. Holds the record
for the 100 yards freestyle.
| don't remember
any A. Hopkins Parker.
Well, this was six years ago.
You mean no one's broken the record
since then?
Guess not.
About time they did.
On your mark...
get set...
Go, Finny!
-So, how did | do?
-You broke it.
A. Hopkins Parker's record,
.75 of a second.
My God, | did? | really did?
| can't explain it,
but | had this feeling | could.
You did, you absolutely did.
New school record, 54.25.
The only problem is
no one saw it but me.
So what?
Well, it has to be official.
A. Hopkins Parker cannot stay up there
when you've broken the record.
-It doesn’t really matter.
-Of course it matters.
Hey, tomorrow.
We'll get the coach, timekeepers,
a reporter from The Devonian...
and you'll break the record again
and we'll put up a new plaque...
-with a new champion--
-No.
What do you mean, "No"?
It was just something | wanted to do,
but not in public.
That would ruin it.
We're just gonna keep this
between you and me.
Besides, swimming in pools is weird,
anyway.
The only real swimming is in the ocean.
Come on, buddy.
You know | can't.
| got that math test in the morning.
Tick, tick, tick.
Buy a balloon.
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Hi. You girls
getting some popcorn here?
Hi. Yeah.
One popcorn, please.
How about this one?
Hi, girls, want some popcorn?
Give me some.
Look, let's get ice-cream.
-That's 20¢.
-That's good.
| know you didn't want to come today,
but it was worth it, wasn't it?
There's nothing in the world
like the ocean...
and it wouldn't have been the same
if I'd been here alone.
| mean, it's great,
it's always great, but...
it's not the same as being here
with your best buddy.
What a sleep.
It's the best ever.
-What time is it?
-It's 6:30.
Come on.
-We gotta get back.
-1 won't be long.
Mr. Forrester?
How's it going?
Don't worry, you'll get your usual "A."
Yeah?
Well, | flunked that math test today.
First time I've ever flunked anything
in my life.
A fluke. A mere fluke.
You're the smartest person | know.
Except for Brinker.
You're not trying to beat him
or anything, are....
-l get it.
-What?
You wanna be head of the class.
The new boy wonder.
-The valedictorian and all that stuff.
-Are you kidding?
-Come on, | wouldn't waste my time.
-You don't have to. | waste it for you.
But somebody's
gotta be head of the class.
| knew it. | know you like a book.
But what if | did beat Brinker?
| mean, you get all the athletic prizes,
if | beat Brinker....
You wouldn't mind, would you?
Mind? I'd eat my heart out.
I'd kill myself out of jealous envy.
I'd hate you forever. Absolutely.
-l believe I've found my calling at last.
-God forbid.
Shut up and sing, Brinker.
You're the only bass we've got.
-What about Forrester? Can't he help?
-Him? He can’t sing for beans.
Well then, we can't use him, can we?
Chorus?
He can't sing for beans!
We can't use him, we can't use him
He can’t sing for beans
-That's lovely.
-Your phrasing's off, and your pitch.
I'll bet he can't fight either.
Bet he can't fight for beans.
On pitch this time, watch that rhythm.
Bet he can’t fight, bet he can’t fight
He can't fight for beans
-That's enough, Brink.
-He's all right.
Come on, pal.
We need your spicy Southern voice.
You don't need my voice.
You got plenty of voices here anyway.
Besides, | gotta go study.
Forrester. Always the student.
-That's a mighty mysterious roommate.
-Well, you never trust anyone, Brink.
And for your information, Gene and |
are planning to enlist after graduation.
And how could | go into this war
and serve my country...
without someone to trust with my life?
One more time.
"And Though This World,
With Devils Filled."
Away with the books.
Away with the French.
Ce soir le grand Leper va satuter...
out of our tree.
Leper wouldn't jump out of that tree
with all of Germany behind him.
-He's not ready.
-He promised he would today.
-The French final is tomorrow, Finny.
-You'll do great.
-What makes you so sure?
-You always do.
When you let me.
-Let you what?
-You know, work.
Study. All the things
you don't give a hoot about.
Not everybody is like you, Phineas.
Things come naturally to you.
-To you too, buddy.
-No, they don't.
| have to work....
You know what, forget it.
Never mind, you wouldn't understand.
Come on,
let's go watch Leper not make his leap.
-What wouldn't | understand?
-Nothing. Never mind.
You mean, you want to study?
I never thought you needed to.
| mean, you're good.
You're really good.
And if | had a brain like that, I'd....
Well, we all know | don't. But you do.
And if you have to study, bien sir.
| just thought it came to you.
I'm not you, Finny.
So don't go.
What?
I'll watch Leper.
Don't even think about it.
-Wait a minute.
-It's just a game, work’s more important.
But | should....
Maybe you really will beat Brinker
and be head of the class. I'd like that.
-We all would.
-I'm coming with you.
You're staying right there
at that desk. Studying.
No.
You mean you think
you've done enough?
Sure?
You're nuts, you know that?
Why didn't you tell me
you ever had to study?
All this time and | never knew.
| wish you had.
But now, you're gonna be the best
student in the best school in America.
Thank you.
If we hurry, we can do a jump
before the others get there.
-So, where is everyone?
-They're coming.
-l told you Leper wasn't coming.
-Take my word for it, Leper will be here.
Finny, you don't control everybody's life.
Leper will be here.
We'll go together.
ll bet no one's ever done that before.
Come out a little further,
we'll jump side by side.
All right. He's gonna be all right.
How do you know?
| talked to the doctor.
So we don't have to worry anymore.
-Are you sure?
-The doctor wouldn't lie, would he?
Finny wants to see you.
You're the one person he asked for.
Me? He wants to see me?
Of course you, you're the roommate.
| mean, you'd think he'd want to see
me and Leper too, the bum.
But the doctor said
only one visitor tonight.
-So he's gonna be all right?
-Yeah.
No internal injuries.
He'll be walking again eventually.
Sports are finished for him.
-They can't be finished.
-What'd you think? His leg's shattered.
But if he can walk again,
then he can play sports.
He's alive, Forrester, thank God for that!
But that's what he lived for.
Well, he'll have to live
for something else from now on.
It's a tragedy, of course,
but the tragedy is his.
He'll get through it, though.
We can't let him feel sorry for himself.
Yeah?
Forrester, he's in there waiting for you,
but don't stay too long.
He's still a little tired
after the procedure.
Well, don't just stand there.
What's wrong?
I'm the one in the infirmary,
for Christ's sake...
and you look positively sick.
| hate that tree, you know that?
Absolutely hate it.
You always did.
Even when you pretended not to.
Yeah, but you loved it.
What happened up there, anyway?
| don't know.
| keep going over it in my mind...
and | just can't put it together.
| remember turning towards you,
to reach you...
to grab,
to hold onto you so | wouldn't fall.
When | held out my hand,
it was like you got this really....
This really funny look,
like you were shocked or something.
Like the look you have
on your face right now.
Well, | am shocked.
| mean, we all are.
What made you fall, Finny?
You remember?
Something moved.
The tree.
And | lost my balance.
| did have this feeling though,
when you were standing so close...
so near to me that....
| must've been insane.
Hallucinating, as usual.
| could've sworn....
| fell. That's all, | just fell.
Sorry for that feeling | had.
Listen, | gotta tell you something
right now.
I'm afraid | have to cut this visit short,
boys.
Phineas needs his sleep.
He's got to be ready for the morning.
What for?
Summer Session's
almost finished anyway.
And you, sir, you're going home.
Boston, next stop.
All passengers continuing on
to Greenhood, Devon...
and Jackson Corner,
please remain seated.
Boston, next stop.
-Finally. I've been expecting you.
-You have?
| didn't even know | was coming.
| always know what you're gonna do
before you do.
So, what'd you bring me
from the sunny South?
I must confess, | didn't bring anything.
Don't worry, your foolish face is enough.
And hearing that accent
back in full swing.
What happened down in Dixie?
-Not much. Not much of anything.
-No beautiful Southern belles?
Not really, no.
There must have been something.
Someone.
Come on, don't disappoint me.
As a matter of fact,
| came to talk about the accident.
-l thought about it the whole way up.
-No kidding?
Seventeen hours on the train.
Well, that was very thoughtful of you.
-Well, | have to think about it.
-Why's that?
Because | caused it.
What are you talking about?
Sit down and relax.
| deliberately shook the limb
so you'd fall.
Sure you did. You're nuts.
I've told you that before.
-Listen, you gotta listen to me.
-I'm not listening to another word.
But you gotta believe me.
| shook the limb.
-Finny, | wanted you to fall--
-Stop it. I'll kill you if you don't shut up.
You hear that? You'll kill me.
| mean, that's nearly what | did to you.
Go away. You're killing me now.
You must be Gene.
Fin's always talking about you.
| don't think he's ever said
one bad thing.
You asked Gene to stay for supper,
didn't you, Fin?
Oh, no, thank you.
| gotta get back to school.
| just came to see
how he was doing and everything.
Him? He's up to his usual tricks.
-Well, that's good.
-Bye, buddy. See you soon.
-Soon? Really?
-As soon as possible.
Imagine having a nice peaceful house
again? He's driving us all crazy.
Yeah, he can do that.
Well, don't send him back too soon.
We need the rest.
Don't start following the rules now.
I'm counting on you till | get back.
| won't. Definitely not.
We used to pick apples
every fall back home.
Well, Forrester and |
really need your expertise.
I'd venture to say you've never picked
an apple before today, right?
Not quite.
Don't tell me you picked one down
on your romantic Southern plantation.
No, that was cotton.
So | guess there's no need
to send home today's hard-earned cash.
You mean we're getting paid?
Were you too busy sketching to hear
the announcements in chapel, Lep?
-Don't tell me you just volunteered.
-1 like picking apples.
Of course.
Forrester and | are more practical.
We did it for the money.
It's not quite the same anymore, is it?
Without Finny.
-No, it's not.
-Nothing is.
They're beauties, aren't they?
You boys worked hard.
Especially that one.
-Grow up on a farm, did you, son?
-Yes, sir.
You put me in mind of my youngest.
Joined the army with the other three.
They'll take you, too, you know.
They'll take the whole goddamn school.
They brought him home the other day.
| buried him...
under his favorite tree.
This is all | got left of my youngest son.
Maybe one of you want it?
Go ahead, son, take it.
My guess is that it's a perfect fit.
Hey, Forrester.
Long-distance call for you.
For me? Who is it?
| don't know. They wouldn't say.
-Do you have five?
-Yeah.
Hello?
Speak up, | can't hear you.
Hey, you don’t recognize
your own roommate?
Finny?
Who else would spend all his money
on a long distance call to you?
| just didn't....
Everybody misses you.
Leper was saying today--
Good old Lep. | gotta get back.
Make sure the old place is in order.
Yeah, there's been no order
whatsoever since you went.
| bet. Where were you anyway?
I've been trying to reach you all day.
-Apple picking.
-Apple picking? What the hell for?
The harvesters have gone off to war.
Can't they stop talking about that war
for one second?
What a waste. Corrupt, stupid.
Tell me about school. Devon. Sports.
-What sports are you going out for?
-Nothing.
| hate all forms of exercise.
-Except apple picking.
-Are you crazy?
-What's more important than sports?
-l don't have time anyway.
Don't tell me you're living
by the rules again. Listen.
If | can’t play sports,
you're gonna play them for me.
| don't want to hear
another word about it.
I forgot to ask.
-Who're you rooming with?
-Nobody.
-Everybody expects you to come back.
-Good.
'Cause I did have
this momentary little doubt.
You acted pretty strange
when you came here last.
-l guess | was a little.
-A little?
You were completely out of your mind.
Anyway, I'm glad we're still roommates.
-Yeah, but Phineas was his best friend.
-He never even talks about him.
Yeah, | know. But what happened?
What really happened?
Okay.
Was that Phineas?
| thought so.
Yesterday...
due to the enormous snowstorm
that struck the Northeast...
the rail yards of the Boston and Maine...
in our neighboring Chesterton
were paralyzed.
| don't know why.
I think everyone would really like it.
Leper, what are you doing?
Touring.
Touring? What the hell is that?
The way you get around the countryside
in the winter.
Forgive my ignorance.
| thought that was skiing.
Skiing is what everyone does
these days.
Zipping along,
never seeing the hills or the trees.
Real skiing isn't supposed to be fast.
Where are you two going?
Where everyone is going.
Didn't you hear the Headmaster--
We're going to help shovel out the
railroad tracks. What are you gonna do?
I'm looking for a beaver dam
behind those woods.
Beaver dam? That's interesting.
It used to be in a stream
that flows into the Devon.
-Let us know if you find it.
-Yeah, and don't drown in the dam.
Don't worry. It's not that deep.
I'm concerned
that the beaver himself won't show up.
-Now that could be a problem.
-Not really.
Just finding their home, where they live.
They're incredible builders.
They don't want any trouble,
just to be safe.
The search itself will be worth it.
And besides...
I've got my deerstalker's cap.
That's it. My mind's made up.
Leper Lepellier made it up for me.
-About what?
-Beavers, beaver dams, touring.
For God's sake, doesn't anybody know
there's a war going on?
First thing tomorrow, I'm gonna enlist.
You wanna come along, Forrester?
Yeah. As a matter of fact, | do.
Hey, look who's back!
Come on, time to go!
-Where are we going?
-Practice.
Gotta get you in shape.
For what?
The Winter Olympics, dope. What else?
What the hell are you talking about?
It's the season. We've never had
a Winter Olympics at Devon before.
-And this is the year to start?
-Why not? You ready, Forrester?
You ready for the big day?
Oh, my God, you're back.
Yeah.
-What big day?
-Forrester and | are....
-What's going on?
-We're going to enlist.
-Enlist?
-Yeah.
You're going to enlist?
-When?
-l don't know--
Today. We're on our way now.
I'm first in the shower.
-Don't get that cast wet.
-Let me take--
No, | can manage.
Brink, | changed my mind.
We weren't really gonna enlist,
were we?
-l thought so.
-Enlist?
| wouldn't enlist with you if you were
General MacArthur's eldest son.
Not even if you were
Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
You know something?
He really is Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
You didn't really think
Brinker would enlist? Or me? Come on.
Stuck with you, huh?
Quelle catastrophe!
Come on. Let's get started.
-Hurry, man. It's freezing out here.
-You're freezing?
How about getting some
breakfast at the Devon?
| don't care how cold it is.
Four times around as usual, Forrester.
| know you.
You're not really giving yourself to this.
After three weeks,
| want to see some headway.
| don't think I can.
Did | ever tell you...
| was aiming for the Olympics?
You know, before the accident.
-No, you never told me.
-It was kind of a dream, | guess.
Anyway, everything's different now.
-Yeah.
-Yeah. Now it's up to you.
What?
You're gonna be the hero now.
Me?
Are you crazy?
I'm gonna make you the greatest athlete
this school has ever seen.
Let's go.
This time for real.
Go! Speed it up!
Go on.
Keep it going.
One more time.
Go on.
There you go, pal.
Look at you, not even winded.
-l can't believe it.
-l can.
| saw it happen, right over there.
That last time around.
| knew it would. If not today,
it'd be tomorrow or the next day.
-Worth the effort, wasn't it, pal?
-Yeah.
That's why | kept pushing you.
| wanted you to understand
what it feels like.
To understand what | lived for.
Even if it's only once in your life,
it's worth everything.
We're extremely fortunate
to have Lieutenant Johnson...
of the United States Ski Force
here with us this evening.
The Lieutenant is also a recruiting
officer and he's going to show us a film.
| know that some of you
are looking forward to joining up...
to go to the war
for the sake of our country.
Hopefully, you'll find this film inspiring.
In any event, it will require
your complete concentration.
So, sit up and pay attention.
Any questions you may have...
will be answered
at the end of the film's showing.
Uncle Sam’s Modern Cavemen.
The Army’s white-clad mountain troops
in training on Mt. Rainier...
a mile above sea level.
Versatile fighting men equipped
for winter warfare. Mechanized, too.
These motorized toboggans
run on a pleated caterpillar belt...
something new in snowmobiles.
And they really can climb.
Now they’re coming down the mountain.
Only weeks ago, three-quarters of them
never saw a ski outside a newsreel.
Now look at them.
Yankee troops on skis...
fitting themselves for action
in any clime where the drifts are deep...
the winds are cold,
and the slopes are steep.
Check.
Christ, he really did it.
- Yeah, right after the film.
- Inever knew he had it in him.
Who knows? Maybe he'll surprise us all.
-Leper, old man, you're really going?
-Right away.
Did you realize
you're the first in our class to enlist?
In two weeks, I'll be 18.
Too late to choose. They'll choose me.
What am | good for?
Those skiers. | could be one of them.
If war can be like that, | wanna go, too.
| brought you each
a going-away present.
You first, Finny.
My God, Lep, | can't.
| thought you'd take care of them
till I come back.
I'll guard them with my life.
For you, Gene Forrester.
-Thanks, but | already got a--
-But with such a destructive ring...
you could wake an army.
With mine, you can sleep right through.
Doesn't that sort of defeat....
Thanks, Lep.
I'll use it every night.
When you hear it,
think of me on the snowy slopes.
This is for me?
Thought it might come in handy
some day.
You might find the beaver dam with it.
Maybe even the beaver himself.
Thanks, Lep. That's very thoughtful.
Won't you need this
on those snowy slopes?
Don't you remember?
I've got this.
Finny, look.
Right there.
Where do you think Leper is now?
In hiding, he's worn out
after his attempt on Hitler's life.
-What about the Tunisian campaign?
-Yeabh, that really took it out of him.
One victory after another.
Leper's stand at Stalingrad
was very big.
-Leper on Burma Road.
-No, even bigger.
Why didn't he write and tell us
he left the ski troops?
All around the world,
I've not gotten one postcard.
Leper's always had his secrets.
Who knows? He could be running
the Free French leadership.
Could you pass the bread?
Any day now. Everybody knows
it's not the Big Three...
but it's the Big Four that are running
the goddamned war.
You guys are nuts. Leper would be
the first to vanish in a crisis.
This whole war is senseless anyway.
Peaceful old Lep from Vermont, in love
with his ski troops and his reindeer.
Come on.
Who created these masterpieces,
anyway?
The artist among us. My roommate.
I like Leper the best. He's probably
getting another medal as we speak.
Poor Lep, having to miss
our Winter Olympics for some war.
Don't kid me. You'd miss it, too,
if it wasn't for that leg.
-Shut up.
-1 know you. You'd be the first to join.
You'd better check your cider.
It'll be gone if you don't.
Oh, God.
On behalf of our beloved Devon...
on behalf of
our beloved Devon community...
on behalf of....
Boy, I really go on, don't I?
Worse than Brinker.
Anyway, at this glorious moment...
| want to formally declare the opening
of the first Devon Winter Olympics.
Let the games begin.
One more time.
| knew you'd do it.
| could dance for joy.
-Go ahead, Finny.
-Prove it!
Yeah, what's stopping you? Go ahead!
What's up, pal?
You look like you've seen a ghost.
Nothing. Come on.
Wait.
Lep! Come on!
It's me, Gene!
Lep?
What is that?
Where | live.
-You mean it's your house?
-My house.
Right.
| don't understand.
What are you doing here?
Are you on leave?
Leave?
What do you know about leave?
Any army lessons you want,
you can get from me.
Leper, what the hell
are you talking about?
The Army, jerk.
They wouldn't keep me anymore.
They'll never take me back,
not if | beg on bended knees.
| tried that, and | don't wanna go back.
Those white capes drifting down...
the reindeer running...
I never got there.
Where | was.
Horror, so much....
What?
| started to see things.
Lep, you gotta speak up.
| can't hear you.
| saw things!
Can you hear me now?
Things no one else could see.
"Visions," they called them,
but they were real.
Yeah, sure they were.
You wanna know
what the war taught me?
I'm a failure.
Come on, Lep. | can't listen to this.
No, you have to.
You have to be my friend.
Oh, my God.
| forgot.
-You're incapable of friendship.
-What do you mean?
Perfect for the Army like your clock.
Tick, tick.
Those visions taught me to see.
Shut up! Shut the fuck up,
you son of a bitch!
| always knew
what you were underneath.
No one liked you!
They hated you!
The only friend you had,
you pushed out of a tree!
Shut up!
The Army was right.
You are crazy.
Am I?
| better go back to where | belong then.
Where you're not invited.
Hey, pal, where you going?
Come on. | need you for the game.
You don't need me.
You've got everybody you need.
Wait.
Come on, Finny!
Would someone please
knock down Brinker?
Someone try. Come on, get him.
-It was Leper.
-Leper?
My God, this looks official, huh?
I've never seen stamps like this.
Why is the Moscow War Office
writing you?
Just give it to me, please.
My God, there's more.
| don't know why | never told you.
| hated everything about the war.
Everyone going but me.
| tried to pretend it didn't exist, but...
| kept writing.
Army, Navy, Air Corps.
| even wrote General de Gaulle.
After the medical report,
it's always the same.
But | haven't given up.
| know the letter will come.
Someone will want me, won't they?
...a few Americans, even now....
-Come on, wake up!
-Come on.
What's this, the Drafting Committee?
What's taken so long?
-There's no draft, Phineas.
-Come on, Brink, | know it's you.
-Where're we going, on a picnic?
-You'll see.
1, for one, am not going with you.
And | don't think Gene is, either.
All right, get them.
All right, we're all here now.
The trial can commence.
What is this, some kind of joke?
It's no joke, Phineas.
Gene's on trial here.
For what?
Are you guys crazy?
Let's go. They can have
their fun and games without us.
No, this is the time for truth.
-Let's begin at the beginning, shall we?
-Wait a minute.
Gene Forrester,
you've been brought here to stand trial--
You're kidding, right?
I'm dead serious.
This is an investigation.
What's there to investigate?
Isn't it better for both of you...
that everything about your accident
be cleared up?
So, tell us.
Nothing to tell.
Nothing?
-1 fell out of a tree.
-How?
Took a wrong step. Lost my balance.
You had the best balance
of anyone in our school.
It's funny, sometimes | think
the tree shook me out by itself.
As if it wanted to get rid of me.
Maybe it wasn't the tree
that wanted to get rid of you.
Wasn't someone else
up there with you?
-Someone said Gene Forrester.
-Finny knows who was there.
-You were down at the bottom, right?
-Yeah, | was down at the bottom.
| thought you were in the tree.
I might've been on the rungs.
| remember now.
You were down at the bottom
and | said something to you...
about doing a double jump.
No, wait.
| said that to you on the ground.
-And then the two of us started to climb.
-But he said he was on the bottom.
| said | was maybe climbing the rungs.
Nobody's accusing anybody
of anything, Forrester.
By the way, wasn't somebody else there
that afternoon?
-Wasn't Leper Lepellier there?
-That's right. He was there.
He would've remembered the whole
thing. Always a great one for details.
It's too bad he's not around.
Leper's here.
Somewhere.
-He destroyed the snail house.
-You're kidding.
What can | do for you?
There's Leper.
The hero returns!
It's perfect timing as usual, Lepellier.
| repeat. What can | do for you?
The tree, Leper.
We want to ask you about the tree.
| know all about the big tree.
About a certain afternoon?
That, too.
Where were you standing
that afternoon?
Behind the tree.
-So you couldn't really see any--
-1 saw everything.
| was at the trunk, looking up.
They were black as death up there.
-Where were they exactly?
-Up on the limb.
Woas one ahead of the other?
-Yes.
-Who?
Who was ahead?
| couldn't tell.
Just two black shapes.
One was further out on the limb
than the other.
And then what happened?
They moved.
How did they move?
Like an engine with two pistons.
One goes down, then the other...
up. Down.
Like a piston.
Then the other went down and fell.
So one shook the other’s balance.
Was the one who fell....
Was Phineas, in other words,
the one who moved first or second?
Are you trying to trap me?
No.
| know all about people like you.
| have information
that could be dangerous.
-Leper, please. This is important.
-Don't you "Leper” me.
-I'm important, too.
-l don't care.
-Finny.
-l don't care!
-Finny!
-Wait. We haven't got all the facts yet.
Go ahead and get them, Brinker.
Get all the facts you want.
Get every fucking fact in the world.
Bring it right in here.
Same leg again.
Appears to be a cleaner break this time,
probably a simple fracture.
We're taking him to the infirmary.
-Finny.
-Who's there?
-It's me, Gene.
-You!
-1 want to talk.
-What?
To break what's left of me?
Haven't you broken enough already?
| tried to tell you that time in Boston.
-But you--
-Why did you come last night?
| felt | belonged here.
What happened up in the tree?
Something crazy inside me.
| mean, something took over me.
But, it wasn't real, Fin.
| swear to God.
Just some impulse.
I've had that before, too.
Not something you had against me?
Not some hatred
you had for me all along?
-You don't hate me, do you?
-No, of course not.
| just wanted you to love Devon like | do.
To love the tree, but....
Nobody loves anything
like you do, Finny.
-l just wanted to look after you.
-You did.
You absolutely did all the time.
Remember that one time, you said:
"Even if it's only once in your life,
it's worth everything.” Remember that?
You did it, didn't you?
Doesn't really matter, does it?
Nothing does.
As long as we're still friends.
'Cause in the end,
that's everything, isn't it?
Forrester, I'll be setting the bone
this afternoon.
So if you'd like to come back
about 5:00...
he should be coming out
of the anesthesia by then.
We can't keep our favorite patient
around here forever.
-Is Dr. Stanpole here?
-He's over there.
Thanks.
Such a clean break.
Anyone could've set it.
The only explanation is...
when | was moving the bone...
some of the marrow
went directly into the bloodstream.
Directly into his heart.
It stopped, just like that...
in the middle of the procedure.
Just gave up.
This is something...
that boys of your generation
are gonna be seeing a lot of.
But why here?
So soon?
And to this boy?
Hit the deck, men!
Look sharp, boys.
Left! Left! Left, right, left!
Unbelievable.
-We're being invaded.
-Yeah, the war's moving in.
Remember how we all talked
about enlisting?
Yeah.
Whether or not Finny enlisted,
he was a hero.
It's strange, but | keep expecting him
to pop up somewhere.
That way Finny always had
of popping up.
-Yeah, when you least expected it.
-Yeah.
-It's just us now.
-Yeah, | know.
| better get going.
You going home?
What we always talked about.
What Finny wanted more than anything.
You're kidding. Enlist?
For Christ's sake, that's something,
that's really something.
-Yeah.
-l wish you luck, Gene.
Thanks, Brinker. Thanks a lot.
| better be getting along myself now.
You, too?
No, not me. Not yet.
But | thought
I'd look for that beaver dam.
Maybe find the old beaver himself.
Good luck, Brinker.
{ thought
that Devon would teach me everything.
Turns out, Phineas was
the best teacher { ever had.
He taught me
how to not be at war with myself.
That not everybody is my enemy.
Finny would always say,
"Just be yourself.”
And | know if he were here now,
he'd tell me to just go on.
So I will, Fin.
We're all here now.
The trial can commence.
What is this, some kind of joke?
It's no joke, Phineas.
Gene's on trial here.
For what?
Are you guys crazy?
Let's go. They can have
their fun and games without us.
No, this is the time for truth.
-Let's begin at the beginning, shall we?
-Wait a minute.
Gene Forrester,
you've been brought here to stand trial--
You're kidding, right?
I'm dead serious.
This is an investigation.
What's there to investigate?
I can't believe I made it to Devon.
My God,
everything I worked so hard for.
This'll be the first time
a Forrester ever had the opportunity...
to make something of himself.
I'm finally gonna be someone important.
To be on the same level
as these rich kids.
I have a real chance.
Come in.
They said you'd get here last night.
I've been waiting.
-Yeah, the train took forever.
-Anyway, here you are.
-Gene Forrester.
-Finny.
How tall are you?
-Five-foot-nine.
-Five-foot-eight-and-a-half.
Never lie about your height.
When's your birthday?
-October 19.
-Mine's the 21st.
-We're almost twins.
-Not quite.
-Come on, I'll help you with your stuff.
-That's okay. I'll take care of it.
Sure. That's your side of the room.
You'll love Devon.
Best school in the world.
My family's gone here for centuries.
They'll never get rid of us.
Did your mother pack for you?
| can't believe anyone could be so neat.
| packed.
Where you from, anyway?
That accent sounds--
I'm from--
Brinker's listening
to that goddamn Hitler again.
Six times a day over that radio of his!
Come on, I'll introduce you.
But | should....
You can unpack later.
Brinker won't bite.
He's very friendly, really.
Once you get to know him.
Brinker Hadley, hub of the class,
king of all knowledge...
the brainiest, brightest.... Meet
Gene Forrester, my new roommate.
And turn that bastard off, s'il vous plait.
You'll never pass French
at that rate, Phineas.
-So you're the lucky one this week?
-Shut up, Brink.
He doesn't know
what he's talking about.
Yes, he does.
Finny's a shining light around here.
-Except for his lousy French.
-Would you like to see my snail house?
Your what?
Leper Lepellier's a collector.
Because of him...
we have a first-rate snail collection
right here in Holmes House.
One night we're gonna make them
into escargots bourguignon.
You wouldn't.
I'd be most interested
to see a snail house.
"Most interested?”
Boy, where are you from?
| thought they only talked like that
in moving pictures.
Don't listen to him.
Let's hear about that snail house.
-He's been working on it for weeks.
-Mr. Forrester, do you--
No, don't push it, Lepellier.
You might lose a possible ally here.
Go on, Gene,
don't let that bully stop you.
I'd like to see it, really.
What bully? | don't know
what you're talking about. Shoot!
Well, there it is.
God.
It's got all these floors,
all these nooks and crannies.
Complete privacy.
But they can be together if they want.
That way they stay peaceful,
don't fight, like us.
Oh, you wish.
Wow, Lep.
| didn't know you had it in you.
| did. Absolutely.
Lepellier, you're a genius.
-Well, what do we call it?
-Bomberball.
-Gene?
-Devonball?
Blitzball.
Perfect, Lep.
That's a perfect name for a perfect ball.
Catch. Run.
Run, Forrester.
Not that way. Towards the lake.
Come on. Let's go.
Get him down.
I can't knock him down,
he's on my team.
There are no teams in Blitzball.
Get him.
Not me. Don't give it to me.
-Here!
-Don't give it to me!
Lep, you gotta take the ball,
it's part of the game.
What game? Finny's just making
the whole thing up as usual.
We're all enemies in Blitzball.
Ready to turn on each other
at any minute.
Leper...
just demonstrated a crucial move:
the Lepellier Refusal.
Let's see what the greatest enemy of all
will do.
Here, Gene!
-Why are they jumping out of that tree?
-Let's join them.
Finny, always so impatient.
It's for seniors, the draft bait.
It's physical training
in preparation for war.
They're practicing
jumping out of the troopships.
That's what we want to do, right, Gene?
-Well, I....
-Look, there's Fitzwinkle.
-God, he's ancient.
-He's Fitzwinkling away before our eyes.
The Army doesn't get him,
those seniors will.
And there"ll be no one left
to teach us a thing.
We'll just have to make it through
on our own, won't we, my friend?
Well, I'm not waiting another minute.
Who's coming with me?
-Are you nuts?
-It's a snap, Brink.
-Fin, you know it's forbidden.
-When have we ever let that stop us?
Not you. Nothing ever stops you.
Come on, Brink. Break the rules
for once in your perfectly organized life.
No, you go ahead
and kill yourself if you want. Not me.
Fin?
You really think you should do this?
With any luck,
they'll accelerate us for the war.
Lower the draft. That's you, Lep.
Gene and me in October.
Brink, you're December.
We need to be ready.
-Fin.
-Forget it.
Don't worry, I'm almost there.
Here goes.
Who's next?
Brinker? | can count on you.
-Not this time.
-Lep?
I'll go.
Great.
Oh, my God.
-Come out further.
-l can't.
Further!
What are you waiting for?
They just torpedoed the troopship.
Jump!
Nice work.
| knew you could do it...
from that first moment
when you walked into our room.
You know, you're good.
A good athlete, but look how you walk.
We gotta get that West Point stride
out of your system.
-What's wrong with the way | walk?
-Nothing. It's just....
-It's the way | was raised.
-Rules and regulations, huh?
-Rules are meant to be broken.
-Not in my family.
My family doesn't give a hoot
about what | do.
Yeah? Well, you're lucky that way.
You're brave, buddy.
You just need some looking after.
Much goes on here at Devon
we can't control, Mr. Forrester.
You're new here, so....
How shall | put this?
Your work is not yet at the level of....
Well, you simply haven't had
the advantages of the other boys....
But Summer Session or not,
this is school, not camp.
So, study hard.
And, yes, you have a long road ahead.
Hey, where you going?
Boys, could you please keep it down
for one evening?
You'll get into trouble.
Big trouble from the big man!
The big man will learn of this and....
I think | hear him coming now.
Yes, sir, Kommandant! | understand
you don't like the music! | will be--
Oh, you do like the music?
| will be sure and make sure the--
You want to dance?
Well, go ahead, Herr Kommandant.
Don't let me stop you.
-What in the hell is that?
-A shirt, dummy.
-Haven't you ever seen one before?
-Not in that color.
You're not really gonna wear that,
are you?
Why not? | like it.
-People might think you're....
-Who cares what people think?
| don't, do you?
But not to the Headmaster's tea.
| mean, you're not really gonna wear it
there, are you?
Actually, | think it's quite right
for the Headmaster to me.
Very right for high tea, in fact.
Today's a celebration.
Yeah, for what?
Don't tell me you missed
the 8:00 a.m. news report?
Roosevelt said there's four million
Americans in the military.
| can't wait.
Really?
Research shows us it's a matter of fact.
| say we bomb the living daylights out of
them, don't you, Professor Carmichael?
Well, | don't know
that I'd go as far as all that.
Except for the women and children,
of course. And the old people.
And the works of art.
How do you propose
our boys be so precise...
from thousands of feet in the air,
my dear?
| agree with Mrs. Carmichael.
For God's sake,
let's preserve the works of art.
If it were up to me,
I'd be on my way over there tonight.
| wish to God | could be.
Goodness.
That's quite a shirt you're wearing there,
my boy.
Mother just sent it out to me today...
but it couldn't have arrived
at a better time.
-Why is that?
-For our celebration, of course.
The traditional term tea,
which just happens to coincide...
with us having four million Americans
serve our country.
-l wore it as an emblem.
-Wait, isn't that....
Oh, God.
| must have put it on in my excitement.
Sacrilege.
But it all ties together...
because what happens here at Devon...
is connected
with what happens in the war.
And don't you think today's news
and tea are worthy of the Devon tie?
I'm glad | wore something, though.
| could have lost my pants
right in the middle of our tea.
That wouldn't have been good.
Not in front of you and the Headmaster.
Everything.
You got away with everything.
-Disappointed?
-No, it's just....
| mean, they're teachers,
for God's sake. He's the Headmaster.
So what?
They're just people like you and me.
You mean you always respected
your teachers?
| had to. | wouldn't be here otherwise.
I need to clear out my head.
All that talking....
Yeah, who did most of it?
Not me.
ll don't know who you're talking about.
After you.
Yeah, sure.
We can lick this tree
any old time, right?
Right for me.
ll don't know about you, though.
-So you're not scared anymore?
-Not me.
Must be thinking of someone else.
Take it easy, bud. There's no rush.
You don't gotta tell me.
| know this tree by--
-Thanks.
-Anytime, pal.
| got a great idea.
A secret society.
You and me are charter members.
Anyone who wants to join
has to make the plunge.
-A secret suicide society, you mean.
-A super-secret suicide society.
We'll celebrate at the Devon Diner.
| still have those irregular French verbs.
Don't worry, I'll teach you every verb
you need to know...
over les best French fries
dans le New England.
That's the craziest thing I've ever heard.
There are real rules to this game.
You can't just make them up.
You're always so concerned
about rules, Brink.
Someone has to be,
or the world would go haywire.
Let it.
That's you, all right. Forrester
and | know differently though, don't we?
Let him alone, Brink.
He's concentrating.
"And the gods shook,
they knew not why."
It's a game, isn't it?
A game we all want to play.
Well, especially you.
You always want to play.
That's your life.
But.... Wait, what's going on?
Phineas just won the hand, Brinker.
While you were talking.
-Finny always wins.
-Yeah, so I've noticed.
Winner today, winner tomorrow.
-What is that, an old Vermont maxim?
-What? What's a maxim?
What you just....
What's a Lepellier,
that's what I'd like to know?
Isn't it about that time? Come on.
Come on, everyone. Time to jump.
Come on, Sacks.
All right, I'm ready. Give me a second.
-Let's go, Harry.
-Hold on.
-Let's go, Rach.
-We'll be right there.
-Come on, we're gonna do the jump.
-Come on, Gene.
Let's go everybody.
-You gonna jump?
-1 like to watch.
Excellent, Forrester.
| knew you could do it.
Keep it up and we'll all be proud of you.
Here you go.
-That's my paper.
-Another "A," boy, oh, boy.
Well, no math today, mon ami.
We've got bigger things to do.
Sorry, | gotta go to class.
You don't need that watch,
you're your own ticking clock.
Tick, tick, ticking away. Come on,
we need to calm that ever busy brain.
Wasn't this a great idea?
You gotta trust me.
There's still that test tomorrow.
Tick, tick, ticking again? You'll do fine.
-Hey! Finny, who's A. Hopkins Parker?
-Who?
A. Hopkins Parker. Holds the record
for the 100 yards freestyle.
| don't remember
any A. Hopkins Parker.
Well, this was six years ago.
You mean no one's broken the record
since then?
Guess not.
About time they did.
On your mark...
get set...
Go, Finny!
-So, how did | do?
-You broke it.
A. Hopkins Parker's record,
.75 of a second.
My God, | did? | really did?
| can't explain it,
but | had this feeling | could.
You did, you absolutely did.
New school record, 54.25.
The only problem is
no one saw it but me.
So what?
Well, it has to be official.
A. Hopkins Parker cannot stay up there
when you've broken the record.
-It doesn’t really matter.
-Of course it matters.
Hey, tomorrow.
We'll get the coach, timekeepers,
a reporter from The Devonian...
and you'll break the record again
and we'll put up a new plaque...
-with a new champion--
-No.
What do you mean, "No"?
It was just something | wanted to do,
but not in public.
That would ruin it.
We're just gonna keep this
between you and me.
Besides, swimming in pools is weird,
anyway.
The only real swimming is in the ocean.
Come on, buddy.
You know | can't.
| got that math test in the morning.
Tick, tick, tick.
Buy a balloon.
-Here you go.
-Thank you.
Hi. You girls
getting some popcorn here?
Hi. Yeah.
One popcorn, please.
How about this one?
Hi, girls, want some popcorn?
Give me some.
Look, let's get ice-cream.
-That's 20¢.
-That's good.
| know you didn't want to come today,
but it was worth it, wasn't it?
There's nothing in the world
like the ocean...
and it wouldn't have been the same
if I'd been here alone.
| mean, it's great,
it's always great, but...
it's not the same as being here
with your best buddy.
What a sleep.
It's the best ever.
-What time is it?
-It's 6:30.
Come on.
-We gotta get back.
-1 won't be long.
Mr. Forrester?
How's it going?
Don't worry, you'll get your usual "A."
Yeah?
Well, | flunked that math test today.
First time I've ever flunked anything
in my life.
A fluke. A mere fluke.
You're the smartest person | know.
Except for Brinker.
You're not trying to beat him
or anything, are....
-l get it.
-What?
You wanna be head of the class.
The new boy wonder.
-The valedictorian and all that stuff.
-Are you kidding?
-Come on, | wouldn't waste my time.
-You don't have to. | waste it for you.
But somebody's
gotta be head of the class.
| knew it. | know you like a book.
But what if | did beat Brinker?
| mean, you get all the athletic prizes,
if | beat Brinker....
You wouldn't mind, would you?
Mind? I'd eat my heart out.
I'd kill myself out of jealous envy.
I'd hate you forever. Absolutely.
-l believe I've found my calling at last.
-God forbid.
Shut up and sing, Brinker.
You're the only bass we've got.
-What about Forrester? Can't he help?
-Him? He can’t sing for beans.
Well then, we can't use him, can we?
Chorus?
He can't sing for beans!
We can't use him, we can't use him
He can’t sing for beans
-That's lovely.
-Your phrasing's off, and your pitch.
I'll bet he can't fight either.
Bet he can't fight for beans.
On pitch this time, watch that rhythm.
Bet he can’t fight, bet he can’t fight
He can't fight for beans
-That's enough, Brink.
-He's all right.
Come on, pal.
We need your spicy Southern voice.
You don't need my voice.
You got plenty of voices here anyway.
Besides, | gotta go study.
Forrester. Always the student.
-That's a mighty mysterious roommate.
-Well, you never trust anyone, Brink.
And for your information, Gene and |
are planning to enlist after graduation.
And how could | go into this war
and serve my country...
without someone to trust with my life?
One more time.
"And Though This World,
With Devils Filled."
Away with the books.
Away with the French.
Ce soir le grand Leper va satuter...
out of our tree.
Leper wouldn't jump out of that tree
with all of Germany behind him.
-He's not ready.
-He promised he would today.
-The French final is tomorrow, Finny.
-You'll do great.
-What makes you so sure?
-You always do.
When you let me.
-Let you what?
-You know, work.
Study. All the things
you don't give a hoot about.
Not everybody is like you, Phineas.
Things come naturally to you.
-To you too, buddy.
-No, they don't.
| have to work....
You know what, forget it.
Never mind, you wouldn't understand.
Come on,
let's go watch Leper not make his leap.
-What wouldn't | understand?
-Nothing. Never mind.
You mean, you want to study?
I never thought you needed to.
| mean, you're good.
You're really good.
And if | had a brain like that, I'd....
Well, we all know | don't. But you do.
And if you have to study, bien sir.
| just thought it came to you.
I'm not you, Finny.
So don't go.
What?
I'll watch Leper.
Don't even think about it.
-Wait a minute.
-It's just a game, work’s more important.
But | should....
Maybe you really will beat Brinker
and be head of the class. I'd like that.
-We all would.
-I'm coming with you.
You're staying right there
at that desk. Studying.
No.
You mean you think
you've done enough?
Sure?
You're nuts, you know that?
Why didn't you tell me
you ever had to study?
All this time and | never knew.
| wish you had.
But now, you're gonna be the best
student in the best school in America.
Thank you.
If we hurry, we can do a jump
before the others get there.
-So, where is everyone?
-They're coming.
-l told you Leper wasn't coming.
-Take my word for it, Leper will be here.
Finny, you don't control everybody's life.
Leper will be here.
We'll go together.
ll bet no one's ever done that before.
Come out a little further,
we'll jump side by side.
All right. He's gonna be all right.
How do you know?
| talked to the doctor.
So we don't have to worry anymore.
-Are you sure?
-The doctor wouldn't lie, would he?
Finny wants to see you.
You're the one person he asked for.
Me? He wants to see me?
Of course you, you're the roommate.
| mean, you'd think he'd want to see
me and Leper too, the bum.
But the doctor said
only one visitor tonight.
-So he's gonna be all right?
-Yeah.
No internal injuries.
He'll be walking again eventually.
Sports are finished for him.
-They can't be finished.
-What'd you think? His leg's shattered.
But if he can walk again,
then he can play sports.
He's alive, Forrester, thank God for that!
But that's what he lived for.
Well, he'll have to live
for something else from now on.
It's a tragedy, of course,
but the tragedy is his.
He'll get through it, though.
We can't let him feel sorry for himself.
Yeah?
Forrester, he's in there waiting for you,
but don't stay too long.
He's still a little tired
after the procedure.
Well, don't just stand there.
What's wrong?
I'm the one in the infirmary,
for Christ's sake...
and you look positively sick.
| hate that tree, you know that?
Absolutely hate it.
You always did.
Even when you pretended not to.
Yeah, but you loved it.
What happened up there, anyway?
| don't know.
| keep going over it in my mind...
and | just can't put it together.
| remember turning towards you,
to reach you...
to grab,
to hold onto you so | wouldn't fall.
When | held out my hand,
it was like you got this really....
This really funny look,
like you were shocked or something.
Like the look you have
on your face right now.
Well, | am shocked.
| mean, we all are.
What made you fall, Finny?
You remember?
Something moved.
The tree.
And | lost my balance.
| did have this feeling though,
when you were standing so close...
so near to me that....
| must've been insane.
Hallucinating, as usual.
| could've sworn....
| fell. That's all, | just fell.
Sorry for that feeling | had.
Listen, | gotta tell you something
right now.
I'm afraid | have to cut this visit short,
boys.
Phineas needs his sleep.
He's got to be ready for the morning.
What for?
Summer Session's
almost finished anyway.
And you, sir, you're going home.
Boston, next stop.
All passengers continuing on
to Greenhood, Devon...
and Jackson Corner,
please remain seated.
Boston, next stop.
-Finally. I've been expecting you.
-You have?
| didn't even know | was coming.
| always know what you're gonna do
before you do.
So, what'd you bring me
from the sunny South?
I must confess, | didn't bring anything.
Don't worry, your foolish face is enough.
And hearing that accent
back in full swing.
What happened down in Dixie?
-Not much. Not much of anything.
-No beautiful Southern belles?
Not really, no.
There must have been something.
Someone.
Come on, don't disappoint me.
As a matter of fact,
| came to talk about the accident.
-l thought about it the whole way up.
-No kidding?
Seventeen hours on the train.
Well, that was very thoughtful of you.
-Well, | have to think about it.
-Why's that?
Because | caused it.
What are you talking about?
Sit down and relax.
| deliberately shook the limb
so you'd fall.
Sure you did. You're nuts.
I've told you that before.
-Listen, you gotta listen to me.
-I'm not listening to another word.
But you gotta believe me.
| shook the limb.
-Finny, | wanted you to fall--
-Stop it. I'll kill you if you don't shut up.
You hear that? You'll kill me.
| mean, that's nearly what | did to you.
Go away. You're killing me now.
You must be Gene.
Fin's always talking about you.
| don't think he's ever said
one bad thing.
You asked Gene to stay for supper,
didn't you, Fin?
Oh, no, thank you.
| gotta get back to school.
| just came to see
how he was doing and everything.
Him? He's up to his usual tricks.
-Well, that's good.
-Bye, buddy. See you soon.
-Soon? Really?
-As soon as possible.
Imagine having a nice peaceful house
again? He's driving us all crazy.
Yeah, he can do that.
Well, don't send him back too soon.
We need the rest.
Don't start following the rules now.
I'm counting on you till | get back.
| won't. Definitely not.
We used to pick apples
every fall back home.
Well, Forrester and |
really need your expertise.
I'd venture to say you've never picked
an apple before today, right?
Not quite.
Don't tell me you picked one down
on your romantic Southern plantation.
No, that was cotton.
So | guess there's no need
to send home today's hard-earned cash.
You mean we're getting paid?
Were you too busy sketching to hear
the announcements in chapel, Lep?
-Don't tell me you just volunteered.
-1 like picking apples.
Of course.
Forrester and | are more practical.
We did it for the money.
It's not quite the same anymore, is it?
Without Finny.
-No, it's not.
-Nothing is.
They're beauties, aren't they?
You boys worked hard.
Especially that one.
-Grow up on a farm, did you, son?
-Yes, sir.
You put me in mind of my youngest.
Joined the army with the other three.
They'll take you, too, you know.
They'll take the whole goddamn school.
They brought him home the other day.
| buried him...
under his favorite tree.
This is all | got left of my youngest son.
Maybe one of you want it?
Go ahead, son, take it.
My guess is that it's a perfect fit.
Hey, Forrester.
Long-distance call for you.
For me? Who is it?
| don't know. They wouldn't say.
-Do you have five?
-Yeah.
Hello?
Speak up, | can't hear you.
Hey, you don’t recognize
your own roommate?
Finny?
Who else would spend all his money
on a long distance call to you?
| just didn't....
Everybody misses you.
Leper was saying today--
Good old Lep. | gotta get back.
Make sure the old place is in order.
Yeah, there's been no order
whatsoever since you went.
| bet. Where were you anyway?
I've been trying to reach you all day.
-Apple picking.
-Apple picking? What the hell for?
The harvesters have gone off to war.
Can't they stop talking about that war
for one second?
What a waste. Corrupt, stupid.
Tell me about school. Devon. Sports.
-What sports are you going out for?
-Nothing.
| hate all forms of exercise.
-Except apple picking.
-Are you crazy?
-What's more important than sports?
-l don't have time anyway.
Don't tell me you're living
by the rules again. Listen.
If | can’t play sports,
you're gonna play them for me.
| don't want to hear
another word about it.
I forgot to ask.
-Who're you rooming with?
-Nobody.
-Everybody expects you to come back.
-Good.
'Cause I did have
this momentary little doubt.
You acted pretty strange
when you came here last.
-l guess | was a little.
-A little?
You were completely out of your mind.
Anyway, I'm glad we're still roommates.
-Yeah, but Phineas was his best friend.
-He never even talks about him.
Yeah, | know. But what happened?
What really happened?
Okay.
Was that Phineas?
| thought so.
Yesterday...
due to the enormous snowstorm
that struck the Northeast...
the rail yards of the Boston and Maine...
in our neighboring Chesterton
were paralyzed.
| don't know why.
I think everyone would really like it.
Leper, what are you doing?
Touring.
Touring? What the hell is that?
The way you get around the countryside
in the winter.
Forgive my ignorance.
| thought that was skiing.
Skiing is what everyone does
these days.
Zipping along,
never seeing the hills or the trees.
Real skiing isn't supposed to be fast.
Where are you two going?
Where everyone is going.
Didn't you hear the Headmaster--
We're going to help shovel out the
railroad tracks. What are you gonna do?
I'm looking for a beaver dam
behind those woods.
Beaver dam? That's interesting.
It used to be in a stream
that flows into the Devon.
-Let us know if you find it.
-Yeah, and don't drown in the dam.
Don't worry. It's not that deep.
I'm concerned
that the beaver himself won't show up.
-Now that could be a problem.
-Not really.
Just finding their home, where they live.
They're incredible builders.
They don't want any trouble,
just to be safe.
The search itself will be worth it.
And besides...
I've got my deerstalker's cap.
That's it. My mind's made up.
Leper Lepellier made it up for me.
-About what?
-Beavers, beaver dams, touring.
For God's sake, doesn't anybody know
there's a war going on?
First thing tomorrow, I'm gonna enlist.
You wanna come along, Forrester?
Yeah. As a matter of fact, | do.
Hey, look who's back!
Come on, time to go!
-Where are we going?
-Practice.
Gotta get you in shape.
For what?
The Winter Olympics, dope. What else?
What the hell are you talking about?
It's the season. We've never had
a Winter Olympics at Devon before.
-And this is the year to start?
-Why not? You ready, Forrester?
You ready for the big day?
Oh, my God, you're back.
Yeah.
-What big day?
-Forrester and | are....
-What's going on?
-We're going to enlist.
-Enlist?
-Yeah.
You're going to enlist?
-When?
-l don't know--
Today. We're on our way now.
I'm first in the shower.
-Don't get that cast wet.
-Let me take--
No, | can manage.
Brink, | changed my mind.
We weren't really gonna enlist,
were we?
-l thought so.
-Enlist?
| wouldn't enlist with you if you were
General MacArthur's eldest son.
Not even if you were
Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
You know something?
He really is Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
You didn't really think
Brinker would enlist? Or me? Come on.
Stuck with you, huh?
Quelle catastrophe!
Come on. Let's get started.
-Hurry, man. It's freezing out here.
-You're freezing?
How about getting some
breakfast at the Devon?
| don't care how cold it is.
Four times around as usual, Forrester.
| know you.
You're not really giving yourself to this.
After three weeks,
| want to see some headway.
| don't think I can.
Did | ever tell you...
| was aiming for the Olympics?
You know, before the accident.
-No, you never told me.
-It was kind of a dream, | guess.
Anyway, everything's different now.
-Yeah.
-Yeah. Now it's up to you.
What?
You're gonna be the hero now.
Me?
Are you crazy?
I'm gonna make you the greatest athlete
this school has ever seen.
Let's go.
This time for real.
Go! Speed it up!
Go on.
Keep it going.
One more time.
Go on.
There you go, pal.
Look at you, not even winded.
-l can't believe it.
-l can.
| saw it happen, right over there.
That last time around.
| knew it would. If not today,
it'd be tomorrow or the next day.
-Worth the effort, wasn't it, pal?
-Yeah.
That's why | kept pushing you.
| wanted you to understand
what it feels like.
To understand what | lived for.
Even if it's only once in your life,
it's worth everything.
We're extremely fortunate
to have Lieutenant Johnson...
of the United States Ski Force
here with us this evening.
The Lieutenant is also a recruiting
officer and he's going to show us a film.
| know that some of you
are looking forward to joining up...
to go to the war
for the sake of our country.
Hopefully, you'll find this film inspiring.
In any event, it will require
your complete concentration.
So, sit up and pay attention.
Any questions you may have...
will be answered
at the end of the film's showing.
Uncle Sam’s Modern Cavemen.
The Army’s white-clad mountain troops
in training on Mt. Rainier...
a mile above sea level.
Versatile fighting men equipped
for winter warfare. Mechanized, too.
These motorized toboggans
run on a pleated caterpillar belt...
something new in snowmobiles.
And they really can climb.
Now they’re coming down the mountain.
Only weeks ago, three-quarters of them
never saw a ski outside a newsreel.
Now look at them.
Yankee troops on skis...
fitting themselves for action
in any clime where the drifts are deep...
the winds are cold,
and the slopes are steep.
Check.
Christ, he really did it.
- Yeah, right after the film.
- Inever knew he had it in him.
Who knows? Maybe he'll surprise us all.
-Leper, old man, you're really going?
-Right away.
Did you realize
you're the first in our class to enlist?
In two weeks, I'll be 18.
Too late to choose. They'll choose me.
What am | good for?
Those skiers. | could be one of them.
If war can be like that, | wanna go, too.
| brought you each
a going-away present.
You first, Finny.
My God, Lep, | can't.
| thought you'd take care of them
till I come back.
I'll guard them with my life.
For you, Gene Forrester.
-Thanks, but | already got a--
-But with such a destructive ring...
you could wake an army.
With mine, you can sleep right through.
Doesn't that sort of defeat....
Thanks, Lep.
I'll use it every night.
When you hear it,
think of me on the snowy slopes.
This is for me?
Thought it might come in handy
some day.
You might find the beaver dam with it.
Maybe even the beaver himself.
Thanks, Lep. That's very thoughtful.
Won't you need this
on those snowy slopes?
Don't you remember?
I've got this.
Finny, look.
Right there.
Where do you think Leper is now?
In hiding, he's worn out
after his attempt on Hitler's life.
-What about the Tunisian campaign?
-Yeabh, that really took it out of him.
One victory after another.
Leper's stand at Stalingrad
was very big.
-Leper on Burma Road.
-No, even bigger.
Why didn't he write and tell us
he left the ski troops?
All around the world,
I've not gotten one postcard.
Leper's always had his secrets.
Who knows? He could be running
the Free French leadership.
Could you pass the bread?
Any day now. Everybody knows
it's not the Big Three...
but it's the Big Four that are running
the goddamned war.
You guys are nuts. Leper would be
the first to vanish in a crisis.
This whole war is senseless anyway.
Peaceful old Lep from Vermont, in love
with his ski troops and his reindeer.
Come on.
Who created these masterpieces,
anyway?
The artist among us. My roommate.
I like Leper the best. He's probably
getting another medal as we speak.
Poor Lep, having to miss
our Winter Olympics for some war.
Don't kid me. You'd miss it, too,
if it wasn't for that leg.
-Shut up.
-1 know you. You'd be the first to join.
You'd better check your cider.
It'll be gone if you don't.
Oh, God.
On behalf of our beloved Devon...
on behalf of
our beloved Devon community...
on behalf of....
Boy, I really go on, don't I?
Worse than Brinker.
Anyway, at this glorious moment...
| want to formally declare the opening
of the first Devon Winter Olympics.
Let the games begin.
One more time.
| knew you'd do it.
| could dance for joy.
-Go ahead, Finny.
-Prove it!
Yeah, what's stopping you? Go ahead!
What's up, pal?
You look like you've seen a ghost.
Nothing. Come on.
Wait.
Lep! Come on!
It's me, Gene!
Lep?
What is that?
Where | live.
-You mean it's your house?
-My house.
Right.
| don't understand.
What are you doing here?
Are you on leave?
Leave?
What do you know about leave?
Any army lessons you want,
you can get from me.
Leper, what the hell
are you talking about?
The Army, jerk.
They wouldn't keep me anymore.
They'll never take me back,
not if | beg on bended knees.
| tried that, and | don't wanna go back.
Those white capes drifting down...
the reindeer running...
I never got there.
Where | was.
Horror, so much....
What?
| started to see things.
Lep, you gotta speak up.
| can't hear you.
| saw things!
Can you hear me now?
Things no one else could see.
"Visions," they called them,
but they were real.
Yeah, sure they were.
You wanna know
what the war taught me?
I'm a failure.
Come on, Lep. | can't listen to this.
No, you have to.
You have to be my friend.
Oh, my God.
| forgot.
-You're incapable of friendship.
-What do you mean?
Perfect for the Army like your clock.
Tick, tick.
Those visions taught me to see.
Shut up! Shut the fuck up,
you son of a bitch!
| always knew
what you were underneath.
No one liked you!
They hated you!
The only friend you had,
you pushed out of a tree!
Shut up!
The Army was right.
You are crazy.
Am I?
| better go back to where | belong then.
Where you're not invited.
Hey, pal, where you going?
Come on. | need you for the game.
You don't need me.
You've got everybody you need.
Wait.
Come on, Finny!
Would someone please
knock down Brinker?
Someone try. Come on, get him.
-It was Leper.
-Leper?
My God, this looks official, huh?
I've never seen stamps like this.
Why is the Moscow War Office
writing you?
Just give it to me, please.
My God, there's more.
| don't know why | never told you.
| hated everything about the war.
Everyone going but me.
| tried to pretend it didn't exist, but...
| kept writing.
Army, Navy, Air Corps.
| even wrote General de Gaulle.
After the medical report,
it's always the same.
But | haven't given up.
| know the letter will come.
Someone will want me, won't they?
...a few Americans, even now....
-Come on, wake up!
-Come on.
What's this, the Drafting Committee?
What's taken so long?
-There's no draft, Phineas.
-Come on, Brink, | know it's you.
-Where're we going, on a picnic?
-You'll see.
1, for one, am not going with you.
And | don't think Gene is, either.
All right, get them.
All right, we're all here now.
The trial can commence.
What is this, some kind of joke?
It's no joke, Phineas.
Gene's on trial here.
For what?
Are you guys crazy?
Let's go. They can have
their fun and games without us.
No, this is the time for truth.
-Let's begin at the beginning, shall we?
-Wait a minute.
Gene Forrester,
you've been brought here to stand trial--
You're kidding, right?
I'm dead serious.
This is an investigation.
What's there to investigate?
Isn't it better for both of you...
that everything about your accident
be cleared up?
So, tell us.
Nothing to tell.
Nothing?
-1 fell out of a tree.
-How?
Took a wrong step. Lost my balance.
You had the best balance
of anyone in our school.
It's funny, sometimes | think
the tree shook me out by itself.
As if it wanted to get rid of me.
Maybe it wasn't the tree
that wanted to get rid of you.
Wasn't someone else
up there with you?
-Someone said Gene Forrester.
-Finny knows who was there.
-You were down at the bottom, right?
-Yeah, | was down at the bottom.
| thought you were in the tree.
I might've been on the rungs.
| remember now.
You were down at the bottom
and | said something to you...
about doing a double jump.
No, wait.
| said that to you on the ground.
-And then the two of us started to climb.
-But he said he was on the bottom.
| said | was maybe climbing the rungs.
Nobody's accusing anybody
of anything, Forrester.
By the way, wasn't somebody else there
that afternoon?
-Wasn't Leper Lepellier there?
-That's right. He was there.
He would've remembered the whole
thing. Always a great one for details.
It's too bad he's not around.
Leper's here.
Somewhere.
-He destroyed the snail house.
-You're kidding.
What can | do for you?
There's Leper.
The hero returns!
It's perfect timing as usual, Lepellier.
| repeat. What can | do for you?
The tree, Leper.
We want to ask you about the tree.
| know all about the big tree.
About a certain afternoon?
That, too.
Where were you standing
that afternoon?
Behind the tree.
-So you couldn't really see any--
-1 saw everything.
| was at the trunk, looking up.
They were black as death up there.
-Where were they exactly?
-Up on the limb.
Woas one ahead of the other?
-Yes.
-Who?
Who was ahead?
| couldn't tell.
Just two black shapes.
One was further out on the limb
than the other.
And then what happened?
They moved.
How did they move?
Like an engine with two pistons.
One goes down, then the other...
up. Down.
Like a piston.
Then the other went down and fell.
So one shook the other’s balance.
Was the one who fell....
Was Phineas, in other words,
the one who moved first or second?
Are you trying to trap me?
No.
| know all about people like you.
| have information
that could be dangerous.
-Leper, please. This is important.
-Don't you "Leper” me.
-I'm important, too.
-l don't care.
-Finny.
-l don't care!
-Finny!
-Wait. We haven't got all the facts yet.
Go ahead and get them, Brinker.
Get all the facts you want.
Get every fucking fact in the world.
Bring it right in here.
Same leg again.
Appears to be a cleaner break this time,
probably a simple fracture.
We're taking him to the infirmary.
-Finny.
-Who's there?
-It's me, Gene.
-You!
-1 want to talk.
-What?
To break what's left of me?
Haven't you broken enough already?
| tried to tell you that time in Boston.
-But you--
-Why did you come last night?
| felt | belonged here.
What happened up in the tree?
Something crazy inside me.
| mean, something took over me.
But, it wasn't real, Fin.
| swear to God.
Just some impulse.
I've had that before, too.
Not something you had against me?
Not some hatred
you had for me all along?
-You don't hate me, do you?
-No, of course not.
| just wanted you to love Devon like | do.
To love the tree, but....
Nobody loves anything
like you do, Finny.
-l just wanted to look after you.
-You did.
You absolutely did all the time.
Remember that one time, you said:
"Even if it's only once in your life,
it's worth everything.” Remember that?
You did it, didn't you?
Doesn't really matter, does it?
Nothing does.
As long as we're still friends.
'Cause in the end,
that's everything, isn't it?
Forrester, I'll be setting the bone
this afternoon.
So if you'd like to come back
about 5:00...
he should be coming out
of the anesthesia by then.
We can't keep our favorite patient
around here forever.
-Is Dr. Stanpole here?
-He's over there.
Thanks.
Such a clean break.
Anyone could've set it.
The only explanation is...
when | was moving the bone...
some of the marrow
went directly into the bloodstream.
Directly into his heart.
It stopped, just like that...
in the middle of the procedure.
Just gave up.
This is something...
that boys of your generation
are gonna be seeing a lot of.
But why here?
So soon?
And to this boy?
Hit the deck, men!
Look sharp, boys.
Left! Left! Left, right, left!
Unbelievable.
-We're being invaded.
-Yeah, the war's moving in.
Remember how we all talked
about enlisting?
Yeah.
Whether or not Finny enlisted,
he was a hero.
It's strange, but | keep expecting him
to pop up somewhere.
That way Finny always had
of popping up.
-Yeah, when you least expected it.
-Yeah.
-It's just us now.
-Yeah, | know.
| better get going.
You going home?
What we always talked about.
What Finny wanted more than anything.
You're kidding. Enlist?
For Christ's sake, that's something,
that's really something.
-Yeah.
-l wish you luck, Gene.
Thanks, Brinker. Thanks a lot.
| better be getting along myself now.
You, too?
No, not me. Not yet.
But | thought
I'd look for that beaver dam.
Maybe find the old beaver himself.
Good luck, Brinker.
{ thought
that Devon would teach me everything.
Turns out, Phineas was
the best teacher { ever had.
He taught me
how to not be at war with myself.
That not everybody is my enemy.
Finny would always say,
"Just be yourself.”
And | know if he were here now,
he'd tell me to just go on.
So I will, Fin.