Coming Through the Rye (2015) - full transcript

Nice shot.
Go, go.

Right here, right here.
Give it to me.

Pass it right here.
One more, one more.

Look at that header. Come
on, put it up. Put it up.

Right here, here, here.

Nice, nice, nice.

Let's go, go.

Keep it up, keep it up.

Asshole.

Jamie, have a seat.

Thank you, sir.



What can I do for you?

Well, sir,

I came to ask you
if you could co-sponsor

my independent study project,

along with Mr. Z.

What do you plan to do in this
independent study project?

Write a stage adaptation of
The Catcher in theRye, sir.

I've actually
already started it.

You wanna adapt
Catcher in the Rye?

Yes, sir.
Why?

Well, because I think
it deserves to be a play,

I mean, it's the best book
I've ever read.

It made me laugh.
It made me cry.

It just... it really spoke to me.



It spoke to you?
Yes, sir.

What did it say?

Well, I mean, that's just sort
of figure of speech,

- but... MR.
- Oh, I get you.

Grabbed you by the collar
and shook you to the core.

More figures of speech.

What did it say to you, Jamie?

Sir, for the first time,

I felt like I was reading
about someone

who understands me.

Not Huck Finn, not Tom Sawyer,

but Holden Caulfield.

And we'll put it on here
in school

and I'm gonna play Holden.

You have Salinger's permission?

Well, I've been trying
to contact Mr. Salinger,

that... that's part of it,
I've been writing

to anyone who may have met him.

I've read,
he's a bit of a recluse,

a hermit, nobody knows
where he lives.

I've heard that too, sir.
But I can get in contact

with him, I know I can.

The reason I'm asking you

is because you're the one
who taught us the book

and you're the best teacher
at the school, practically.

But if you don't want to,

I'd understand.

Like, hell I would.

Sure I'm not
one of his hockey players,

or football players,
or Fin, Feather,

and Fur Club members,
but it's not

as if I'm asking to make a model
of The Globe Theater

out of Popsicle sticks.
Which I happen to know,

one of his football players
did one year.

Jamie, I think you're biting off
more than you can chew,

but okay.

♪ If I were free ♪

♪ I would run
into battles ♪

♪ With flowers and hugs ♪

♪ And bow at the boots ♪

♪ Of our well-oiled thugs ♪

♪ Yes, if I were free ♪

♪ If it were me ♪

♪ I would yell out ♪

♪ "I love you,"
to all I passed ♪

♪ I would disrobe,
and disco ♪

♪ And rip off my mask ♪

♪ Yes, if I were free ♪

♪ I'd be the 'U'
that crossed the 'I' ♪

♪ To simply 'B' ♪

♪ Minding our reflections ♪

♪ At the bottom
of the sea ♪

♪ What did you see? ♪

♪ I saw that you and I ♪

♪ Forever have been free ♪

♪ The light became
too heavy ♪

♪ And I fell into a dream ♪

♪ What did you dream? ♪

What wouldst thou have with me?

Will you pluck your sword
out of his pilcher

by the ears?
Make haste.

I am for you.

Come, sir, your passado.

Draw, Benvolio,
beat down their weapons.

Gentlemen, for shame,

forbear this outrage.

Tybalt, Mercutio,

the Prince expressly
hath forbidden

this bandying in Verona streets.

Hold, Tybalt!

Good Mercutio!

- What, art thou hurt?
- Merit 'tis enough.

Ask for me tomorrow
and you shall

find me a grave man.

Courage, man,
the hurt cannot be much.

No, 'tis not so deep as a well,

nor so wide as a church-door,

but 'twill serve.

Help me into some house,
Benvolio, or I shall faint.

They've made worms' meat of me.

A plague on both your houses.

Oh, hey.

Hi.
Hi, Lady Capulet.

How are you doing?

That was amazing.

Hey, you were really great.

All you cross-school girls were.

For townies?
No, for anybody, really.

Well, I enjoyed working
with you, too, Jamie.

Thanks.

Hey, look,

so I wrote this play,

called The Catcher...

actually... I actually adapted it

from the book,
The Catcher in the Rye.

Anyway, you'd be great
as Sally Hayes,

Holden Caulfield's girlfriend.

I'm actually playing
the role of Holden.

Oh, she doth teach
the torches to burn bright.

My ears have not drunk

a hundred words
of thy tongues uttering.

But I know the sound.

Art thou not Romeo
and a Crampton boy?

What's a nice kid like you doing

in a place like this anyway?

I don't know.

Like, hell I don't.

But that's not
a pretty story either.

♪ The story of love ♪

♪ Is the story of sighs ♪

I'm gonna miss Ed Sullivan
on Sunday,

I got to get to school
by 5:00.

What? But it's
the Rolling Stones.

Yeah. Well,
my quartermaster is taking

a few of us out to eat, so.

A teacher?
Yeah, of course.

The foot again?

Another ingrown toenail.

I get them, like,
every couple of months now.

It hurts like hell.

Oh, yeah?
Yeah.

Well, then why don't you

try some of this?

What's that?

What do you think it is, man?

It's grass.

You do marijuana?

I don't do it, I smoke it.

Are you kidding?
You're gonna get addicted.

I'm not gonna get addicted.
Oh, my God, Gerry.

You're gonna get arrested.

I'm not gonna get arrested.
I'm serious.

Listen to me,

it's no big deal.

Just don't tell anyone,
all right?

Oh, God.
Hey, check this out.

Holy crap, what is that?

You are so juvenile.
What do you think it is?

It's a bra, but whose?
Robin Miko.

We make out in the darkroom.

Kiss me here?

I like to enlarge you.

I wanna go to Newberry.

The Defense Department
announced today

that there are now
more than 300,000

American soldiers
serving in Vietnam.

Pentagon officials
refuse to confirm...

...500,000 troops

may ultimately be required

to defeat the...

Yes, is
this Mrs. Schwartz?

This is Ed Baker,

Dean of Students at Newberry,

I'm afraid we've had
an incident with Gerry.

What kind of incident?

Well, he's at Houston Valley

Hospital right now,
Mrs. Schwartz.

Oh, my God.
What happened?

It seems he took something,
we think it was LSD

- and jumped through his window.
- Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.

His room is on the first floor,

Mrs. Schwartz.
However, he proceeded

to run through the snow shouting

that his testicles were on fire.

What?
They were on fire?

No, ma'am.
Screw Newberry.

I mean, you need to go
to some place like Andover,

or Hotchkiss, Crampton.

What's so great
about those places?

What's so great about them
is they're some

of the best schools
in the world, practically.

I mean,
they're all boys schools,

but you tell mom
that's where you want to go

and she'll be thrilled.

All boys schools?
How am I supposed to meet

girls like Robin
at an all boys school?

You got to grow up, man.

That's why I wanna go
to Newberry.

Will you shut up
about Newberry already?

I mean, I'm talking
about going to some

of the best schools in the world

and you're talking
about making out

with some girl in a darkroom?

Yes.

Hey, listen to me.

Graduate from a school
like Crampton

and you'll meet a zillion girls.

And girls that are worth
falling in love with

and not just for feeling up.

Okay. Okay.
Let's say you're right.

How am I supposed to get
into a school like that?

They're made for kids like you.

In Vietnam today,

seven marines were killed

when their convoy was ambushed

by Vietcong regulars

near the Song Tra Bong...

I don't really know
how to talk to adults,

they scare me.

Yeah. Well,
another good reason

you're going to boarding school,

you know,
just imagine them naked.

Can I imagine them
just in their underwear?

Really?

Come on, grow up.

All right.
Try this.

Pretend they're someone
you love.

I've never been in love.

Jesus Christ, you're killing me.

All right.
Well, then why don't you

pretend they're someone
you trust

and love. Moi?

Not you.
God, you're crazy, Gerry.

Yeah, get your hands
off my wheel.

You're gonna be fine.

What about you?

Me? I don't know,

mom's talking about
some school up in Maine.

- Maine?
- Called Tate

you know, for kids who mess up

like with drugs and stuff.

Tough love and all that.

Well, so you're gonna go?

I don't know.

I mean, I've...
I kind of had it with school

and everything.

School blows.

You got to go to school, Gerry.

You'll get drafted.

Well, I hear they got some

great marijuana over there.

♪ I will see ♪

♪ This through ♪

♪ And I will be there ♪

♪ For you ♪

Hello, hi,

where can I find someone to help

show me around?

We're your guys.
Hank Marcus, sophomore.

Hi, I'm Jamie Schwartz.
I'm a sophomore, too.

What kind of name is that?

Jewish.

Obviously, Jewish,
I mean, Jamie,

I know a girl named Jamie.

Hey, Campbell,

give the guy a break.

Jamie, how did you
hurt yourself?

Football?

I'm guessing not football.
Soccer?

Actually,
it's an ingrown toenail.

It's really infected.

Okay, then.

All yours, Hank.

Welcome to Crampton, Jamie.

And that's how I got here.

The worst thing is,

they applauded
when I got killed.

It's Mercutio for Christ's sake,

everyone loves Mercutio.

But when she's Sally Hayes,

that's gonna be me.

Come on.

This is from Mr. Van Orford,

a legendary headmaster here

from a million years ago.

I thought maybe he could help me

find ♪.ID. Salinger.

He wrote back and suggested

Bennett Cerf, this old guy

from this old people's game show

called "What's My Line."

Apparently before Mr. Cerf
was ever famous,

he started Random House books

which happens to be the company

that put The Catcher
in the Rye in print.

He wrote back
and suggested Salinger's agent,

the Harold Ober Agency.

Here's my letter to them.

No reply.

So, I wrote Peter Fonda,

you know, the boring one
from Easy Rider?

Life Magazine said
that he ran away

from his boarding school
because he identified

so much with Holden Caulfield.

Here's my letter to him.

No reply.

And here it is.

The heavenly host appear,

and camp about,
and guard me here.

Mr. Marcus?

She is condemned.

Mr. Schwartz,

are you with us?

Yes, sir.

She is saved.

God has saved her soul.

The first six pages of part two

for next class.

Mr. Platt?
Yes, sir.

Will you inform the members

of the football team
who left early?

Yes, sir.

Asshole.

Hey, Freddy.
Yeah?

So we're in this
big drama competition

next Wednesday in New York,

so can I have your notes?

Yeah, sure.

You have to miss class for that?

Football players
miss class all the time.

That, boy,

is football.

So it's...
Yeah, yeah.

She said that to you.

Okay.

What you working on?

Oh, just this play I wrote.

You wrote a play?
Yeah, I did.

Well, I adapted it from the book

The Catcher in the Rye.

Really?
I love that book.

So do I,

I mean, obviously.

I can't believe
you wrote it into a play.

Yeah. We're gonna do it
here at school

and if it's any good, who knows,

off Broadway maybe?

That is so cool.
Yeah.

Can I read it?

Sure, if you want, I mean,

I'm still rewriting it, but...

Is there a part for me?

Yeah, yeah,

you could play, Phoebe.

Oh, that would be amazing.

Isn't she

actually about 10 years old?

Yeah, I mean, I didn't mean
that you could pass

for 10 years old. I just...
I know, I'm kidding.

I get that all the time.
I meant that you could pass

for someone playing 10 years...
I know what you mean, Jamie.

Don't worry about it.

So, who's gonna
play Holden, Ted?

Got you.

You'd be perfect as Holden.

When it's gonna be put on?
This winter.

I'm trying to get
Salinger's permission.

Well, our play is the last,
so when we get to New York,

I'm gonna try and sneak off
to find his agent.

That is so cool.
Yeah.

They have to say yes.
They have to.

He's not interested, kid.

Oh, call Judy Abbot,
tell her I'm on my way.

But he hasn't read it.

He'll never read it.

But if he'd read it,
I know he'd like it.

It's 99% his dialogue.
It doesn't matter

if it's a hundred
and ninety-nine percent,

he won't read it.
What if this is the key

that unlocks the whole book

to a great play,
a great movie even?

Think of all the people
it would reach,

who would never read it.

I admire your passion, kid.

What if you just read it?
Maybe you'll think it's amazing,

you could talk him
to reading it.

Talk him about reading it?

I've never talked to him
in my life.

He doesn't like talking
to people.

Well, then how do you
communicate with him?

He likes people to write.

Okay, well,
then after you read it,

you could write him,
or I could write him?

Just can I please
have his address?

I won't give it to anyone,
I promise.

Sorry, kid.

Let me see, let me see.
Right here.

There he is.

This is 1963,

this is like
a collector's edition.

Yeah, I know,
I will return it, I swear.

But look.

Cornish Flat, New Hampshire.

I found him.

That's fantastic.

Oh.

He's gone total Holden.

I found him.
You found who?

♪ .ID. Salinger.

Really?
What's he like?

No, no,
I didn't find him personally.

But I found out where he lives.

Oh.

Hey, Freddy,

look at this.

Jamie Schwartz,

best supporting actor,
third prize.

Yeah, it's the only prize
we got.

You stud.

Goebbers gave you a prize, too.

He, sprang a pop quiz

while you were gone.

A zero?

Yeah.

Oh.

Dear Mr. Salinger,

if you read this letter
and think

I'm a pain in the ass,

I'm sorry.

I'm one of 575 inmates here

at Crampton Prep.

I say inmates,
because here at Crampton,

it's seems like you always
have to watch your back.

I do believe...
I do believe the other kids

were good people once,

but then they come here,

and get fed into the machine,

and come out phony and cynical,

and just plain mean.

Even this guy Freddy Goreshi

who was the closest thing
to a friend I had

fell into the machine.

Where the hell did you get this?

I found it in his drawer.

Asshole.

I fight every day from letting
the machine get to me.

In fact, the only thing
that keeps me sane

is The Catcher in the Rye.

Actually, it's a play
of The Catcher in the Rye

that I adapted from your book,

and the script is a life formula

for Holden, Phoebe,
and everyone else.

Mr. Salinger...
...I know Holden as well

as anyone except for maybe you.

Part of me is Holden

and I'm the guy
who can bring him to life.

I know this is a lot to ask
from someone you

or Hollywood has never heard of,

but if I could come and see you

and talk to you about this,

maybe I could convince you
of what I'm saying is true.

You could say something like...

You may say something like,
"Come on up,"

or, "Send me the play,"
or anything,

I'd be grateful
and indebted to you.

Very sincerely yours,
Jamie Schwartz.

We had enough of this asshole?

- What the hell?
- It's the machine,

- you faggot.
- The machine.

- What?
- It's the machine,

it's gonna take you.

Salinger can't help you now.

You read my letter?

You stole my goddamn letter!

I'm gonna kill you, you bastard.

Are you gonna rat on us, too?

You're a dead man, Schwartz!

That freak, did you see
him jump?

♪ I wonder
if you hear ♪

♪ The voice inside ♪

♪ Who'll never steal ♪

♪ I wonder if you hear ♪

♪ In the dark ♪

♪ The cold ♪

♪ White ♪

♪ Snow ♪

♪ Do you hear me now? ♪

♪ I'm calling ♪

What are you doing here?

Oh.

We had a holiday today.

Yeah, old Mr. Dewitt

surprises us with one
once in a while.

He's our headmaster.

Lucky.
Yeah.

So, how'd you end up here?

I don't know.

What are you doing
with a suitcase?

Are you running away?

Jamie, why?

Because I hate it there.

It's full of mean guys
and phonies,

I mean, really,
really mean guys.

You sound like Holden.
Well, it's me and it's true.

A bunch of guys
from the football team bombed

my room last night
and tried to beat

the crap out of me,

so I just got the hell
out of there.

God, why would they do that?

Because they were
snooping in my room

and I guess at some point,
found the stupid letter

that I wrote to Salinger
about how they'd all been

fed into the machine
and they'd become

cynical automatons.

Oh, Jamie,

but you can't just run away.

I can't go back there, Deedee.

But where are you gonna go?

I'm gonna go find ♪.ID. Salinger.

What?

Yeah, I'm gonna give him
my script

and maybe he'll...
maybe he'll love it

and he'll just wanna
make a movie of it,

or he'll just wanna go straight

to Broadway with it.
I don't know.

Well, what if you can't
find him?

I will.
Okay.

How are you gonna get there?

I'll hitchhike.

You're not
gonna hitchhike, Jamie.

Yes, I can.
I've done it plenty of times.

You have?
Yeah.

Yeah.

Gee,

okay, then.

I guess, it's goodbye.

Goodbye.

♪ One thing ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ It's not ♪

♪ Where we'll be ♪

♪ That's all ♪

Where you headed, mister?

You know where
I'm headed, Deedee.

I'll tell you what,

I'll drive you up
to see Salinger,

but then you got to come back.

To school?

Deedee, I'm not going back.

Okay. You're not coming back.

♪ Your song ♪

♪ While I'm low ♪

♪ But I don't know ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ They talk in codes ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ They talk in codes ♪

♪ Don't hold ♪

♪ Your breath ♪

Why are you doing this?

I like an adventure.

♪ Don't hold
your breath ♪

Hey, guys.

Dee.
Sit down.

What are you doing here?
Field trip.

Just gonna talk
to these guys a minute.

Field trip?

- Be right back.
- Yup.

♪ Really
brings me down ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

What kind of trouble?

Some guys in the football team

bombed his room
with firecrackers

and tried to beat him up.

So, he's running away?

I mean, that's not
how you handle these things.

It was the whole team, Dad.

Really? The whole team?

Is he homosexual?

No, he isn't homosexual.

And even if he is,
why should they beat him up?

That's just what they do, baby.

I'm not saying they should.

So, what does this have to do

with ♪.ID. Salinger?

Well, if we find him,

maybe Salinger
will like his script

or, at least, like him,
then maybe he'll go

back to school
and put on the play

and he'd be cool too
and they'll leave him alone.

Honey, this sounds crazy.

Oh, it's not crazy.

You're always trying
to help some lost cause.

You're not gonna skip school

and you're not gonna run away

with some boy.

Look, I'm not
running away with him.

It's Friday.

I have two classes.

I'll be back tomorrow.

I promise.
Tonight maybe.

Besides, what could
be more educational

than finding ♪.ID. Salinger?

I'm sorry, baby.

You're gonna have to take him
back to school.

That's what I'm trying to do.

You guys always say
you trust me,

so trust me.

Hey, I was just thinking

Your parents wouldn't,
you know, call the school

or report me, would they?

No, they would never do that.

They pretty much believe
in live and let live.

I wish I'd believe that.

What do you mean?

Well, I did something
really stupid.

You wrote another letter?

No. I wish.

And this was worse,

much, much, much, much worse.

The beginning of junior year,

I actually had quite few
friends in Crampton.

One of them was this kid,
Hank Marcus.

He was my best friend.

He was the first kid
that I met there.

He was super funny,

really smart,

had a smile that just kills.

I know that sounds weird

but if you met him,

you'd definitely say
the same thing.

He was really the best.

He taught me to rock climb

and...

anyway, I took this walk

down to the lake
one morning at dawn.

Some mornings
I just like getting up

and watching the sunrise.

Hank and I had started

to drift apart.

He was hanging out
with these kids

who were taking a lot of risks.
Oh, we got to go.

- Ted, stash your car.
- They were drinking,

doing drugs,

all one-way tickets home.

Hey, come on.

Hey, man,
I know you're not asleep.

I just saw you get out
of the VW.

What are you doing here?

Me? What are you doing?

You could get kicked out
for that.

It was nothing.
Just having some fun.

Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.

What are you doing here, man?

Were you, like,
tripping or something?

It's nothing.
Relax.

That's exactly
what my brother said.

He went to boarding school,
he got messed up with drugs,

and then he got kicked out,
and he completely

- screwed up his life.
- Jesus, okay?

I'm not your brother.

You're my best friend.

And I care about you.
I don't wanna lose you, man.

I'm fine.
I'm telling you.

Just leave me alone.

Hang on.

Jamie Jamie Morrison Morrison

Weatherby George Dupree.

What's up?

Sir, would it be possible

for a student to talk to you
off the record?

Yes it is.

Okay. And you promise
no matter what I tell you

no one could get in trouble?

Yeah.

Come in, Jamie.

Hey, get the door, please?

Give me your hand.

Here, here.

You're doing great.

Well done.

It's all about trust, isn't it?

I trusted that what I was doing

was the right thing for him.

Well, what happened to him?

Did he get kicked out?

No.

But he never spoke to me again,

most people didn't after that.

Maybe you saved his life.

You know, Holden was always

trying to protect kids,

trying to catch them
before they fell off

that cliff.

Cool.

♪ Came to the cold ♪

♪ Just to see you ♪

♪ Standing there
in expectation ♪

♪ Woolen coat
and blue eyes staring ♪

♪ Oh, this vision
does me good ♪

♪ In the city
we don't know yet... ♪

It's so beautiful.

You know,
when I was little kid...

Look how many you got
in your hair.

When I was a kid,

sometimes one of these

would float down our street,

like, something
out of Wizard of Oz

and I used to believe

that if you held it in your hand

and then you made a wish

and then blew it away,

that it would come true.

Well, make a wish.

Oh, no, I already did.

What did you wish for?

That I'd be Holden Caulfield

on stage or in the movies.

Oh.

What?

You shouldn't have told me.

That's funny.

I think that only applies
to birthday candles.

Really?
Yeah.

Let's test it.

What'd you wish for?

That you'd kiss me.

♪ You are ♪

♪ In my dreams at night ♪

♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh... ♪

I guess you were right.

You're gonna be a movie star.

♪ With the music
on their branches ♪

♪ Keep them from the mouths
of creatures ♪

♪ Who intend for them
no good... ♪

If we don't go, it'll be dark

when we get there.

Yeah.

You're right.

♪ Speak the thing
you could not utter ♪

♪ Wind will howl
and moon will cower ♪

♪ At the magic
of the word ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ Ohoooh ♪

♪ Oh, ohoh ♪

♪ Ohohoh, ohoh... ♪

I guess we didn't plan
this too well.

That's okay.

You wanna stay here?

Okay.

Wait here.

I'm right here.

Oh, sorry.

I was just wondering

if you have any rooms available.

You want a room?

Yes, sir.

How much?

How many?

Two, my wife and I,
we're just passing through.

Your wife, you say?

Yes, sir.

Two beds or one?

One.

One. One.

No need to shout.
Sorry.

Are you married?

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

13.50.

Okay.

This isn't so bad.

There's just one bed.

Yeah, I just thought
that it would be cheaper.

Sorry, I guess I should've
asked you first.

I'll just sleep on the chair.

No, it's okay.

Okay.

You sleep with your pants on?

Well, no, not usually.

I just thought that...

okay.

Never mind.

Listen,

I don't have any protection.

I'm on the pill.

Really?

Well, I was getting
excruciating periods,

I even had to go
to the hospital once.

So my doctor put me on the pill.

Oh.

So,

have you slept
with a lot of guys?

No,

I've never slept with anyone.

Oh.

You're shaking.

Am I?

Yeah.

What are you scared of?

I don't know.

Deedee, stop.

What's wrong?

I just... I wanna go
take a walk or something.

Jamie, it's okay.

No, I just have to... I don't...

I don't feel
that great right now.

I feel like I should...

I just need to go
get some fresh air.

Well, do you want me
to come with you?

No, I just...

I need to be alone
for a little while.

♪ Moving along ♪

♪ And not to be alone... ♪

So, your name's Robin?

That's right.

What's your name?

Jamie.

Jamie.

That's a girl's name.

Robin, that's a bird's name.

That's true.

I knew a girl named Robin.

Really?

Yeah.

She was very...

you could be sisters
for Christ's sake.

Honey, I don't think our parents

would've named both of us Robin.

Yeah.

Was this Robin
a girlfriend of yours?

She changed my life.

That's sweet.

She gave my brother her bra.

Yeah, she wrote
dirty things all over it.

- That's terrible.
- Yeah.

They were in the dark room.

He really messed up.

He's in Maine now.

Were you in love with Robin?

No.

I've never been in love.

Jamie?

Deedee.

I was worried about you.

Will you come back up?

Who's your friend?

Oh, Deedee?

She's not my friend,

she's my wife.

I'm sorry.

Jamie?

Yeah?

Do you think maybe

you went to that
teacher about Hank

because you were jealous?

What do you mean?

You were jealous
of the other boys

he was spending time with.

You think I'm queer

because I didn't sleep with you?

No, I...
Why does it always

have to be that the guy
wants to do it?

Why can't a guy
just not feel it's right

or feel it's gonna
ruin something

without him being queer?

I'm sorry, Jamie.

I told you I went to Leverett,

it was because of my brother,

but now I'm sorry
I told you any of it.

I just wanna go find Salinger.

Can we just do that, please?

Yes.

Jamie, I'm sorry
about last night.

Me too.

Okay, so listen, Deedee.

He could be anywhere in there,

he could be in the next aisle

or he could be
behind the counter,

he could even be
the postman incognito.

Holden's always talking about

this and that guy
being incognito.

So, we should be
respectful at all times.

And call him
Jerome David Salinger,

that's his name.

For all we know,
he hates ♪.ID.

Well, more likely,
he hates Jerome.

Sir?

Yeah?

Hi, I was wondering
if you could tell us

where Jerome
David Salinger lives.

Who?

Mr. Jerome
David Salinger.

Nope, never heard of him,

sorry.

Okay.

Is your postmaster around?

I am the postmaster.

Thank you, sir.

I didn't know
they were gonna hide him.

I thought they just
wouldn't know.

Well,

maybe the article was wrong.

I hope not.

Do you feel guilty?

About what?

Well,

if he does live here
and wants so badly

not to be bothered
and we're trying so hard

to do just that.

Kind of.

Yeah.

But we have the play,

I mean, we're not just
curiosity seekers.

Right.
And I just feel like

when I meet him, he'll know me

and he'll know that I'm the kid

he can trust with Holden.

Let's check this house.

Hello, sir.
Hey, how you doing?

Sorry to bother you.

I was wondering
if you could tell me

if you knew where
Jerome David Salinger lives?

Never heard of him.

Who did you say?

Mr. Jerome David Salinger.

Nope.

Maybe he lives over
toward Plainfield.

Yeah, that's where
he lives, I think.

Okay.

Where's Plainfield?

Oh, behind you.

You got to turn around.

All right. Thank you.

You aren't
the first ones, you know.

They come and they go.

You won't find him.

Nobody does.

Nobody finds him.

Nobody talks to him.

Nobody gets near him.

Well, we're different.

He was so obviously lying,

I mean, he's the first
house on the road,

he could be a goddamn sentry

paid by Salinger
to misdirect people.

We're definitely
on the right path.

Okay, then.

So much for feeling guilty.

Hello, sir.

Hi.

We're looking
for Jerome David Salinger.

Salinger?
Yes, sir.

No, that's a...

that's a new one on me.

Who was it, you said?

Mr. Jerome David Salinger.

Live around here, you said?

Yes, sir, I believe so.

I got... I wouldn't know.

I'm a new one around here,

only been here three years now.

Mr. Jerome David Salinger.

♪ Heaven with a hell ♪

♪ Heaven with a hell ♪

♪ Heaven with a hell ♪

Next.

♪ And the bull
has long gone ♪

♪ Hey, hey ♪

I have a question.

When you came
to the high school yesterday,

did you come to see me

or did you come to see Maureen?

Come on, you can tell me.

It's important
for people to be honest

with each other.

I did...
It was Maureen, wasn't it?

Well, I'm really happy
the way it turned out.

You're upset.
I'm not upset.

Well, do you like her?

I don't even know her.

Well, she's an idiot.

How can you not see that?

Well, it doesn't matter,
does it?

'Cause she has a couple
of things I don't.

Like a chest

and bleached blonde hair.

Damn.

You must have taken
a wrong turn.

I didn't take any turns.
Well, that guy

couldn't have been
lying, not him.

Everybody's been lying.

Come on, let's just...
let's go back

to where it looked,

you know, more Salinger-ish.

What does that even mean,
Salinger-ish?

It's beginning
to feel aimless, Jamie.

Maybe they're right,
no one finds him.

If we don't give up,
we'll find him.

I wanna go home.

What? No, no.

I told my parents
I will be home today.

Deedee, we're gonna find him.

I don't care
about finding him anymore.

Deedee.

Deedee, come on.

Deedee.

Deedee, this is stupid.

It's your car.

I'm sorry, I'm an asshole.

Don't call yourself that.

Never call yourself that.

Boys are so juvenile.

You asked me to be honest.

Should I have lied to you?

I knew it was her before
you opened your mouth.

You couldn't lie
if your life depended on it.

And, you know,
I was telling the truth

when I said
that I'm really happy

the way it turned out.

Here.

This looks Salinger-ish to me.

Okay.

What I mean by Salinger-ish,

is that something
about the area makes me think

that one of the most famous
writers in the world

would live here if he...

if he wanted to hide
from everyone.

It's got to be something
that's remote

but not bleak.

Something that's beautiful

but untouched.

It's sort of like the thing

that Holden likes about people,

or kids anyway.

Oh, look.

Oh, God, not again.

What do we do now, Sherlock?

Hey, what's that sound?

Oh.

Hello.

Could you please tell us

where Jerome
David Salinger lives?

No, sorry.

No, you don't know
where he lives,

or you won't tell me,

or can't tell me?

♪ Salinger lives
on Beacon Hill ♪

♪ Salinger lives
on Beacon Hill ♪

♪ Up behind the mountain ♪

Where is Beacon Hill?

Back on Central behind Othello.

Is not.

Is too!

Hush up now.

Could you please tell us
where Beacon Hill is?

We've just come so far.

I'm sorry.

I'm not ordinarily one to lie,

it's just that

so many people come up here
looking for him,

just like yourselves.

Go back up this road
about a mile.

You'll come to a fork.

Go right, then keep right

all the way around the mountain

until you get to the back side.

And when the road turns to tar

with pine trees on the right,

his driveway will be up
on the left.

Oh, God, that is fantastic.

Have you ever seen him?

Well, I have.

I've seen him, all right,

but we didn't get too friendly.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, ma'am.

Thank you, guys.
You've been a great help.

You're welcome.
Thanks a lot.

Isn't it ironic that Holden
is all into protecting kids

and it's actually kids
who were the only ones

willing give up Salinger?

People aren't always
what you think they are.

Yeah, well, you're nothing

like I thought you were.

What'd you think I was?

Okay.

I'll let you off that one.

Tell me what I'm really like.

Well,

you're spunky.

Spunky?
Yeah.

You're refreshing.

Oh, God, I sound
like a breakfast drink.

You're bubbly.

So, Fresca?

You're honest

and kind.

You're strong.

You're sensitive.

Nice.
You're nice.

No, that was nice.

Trustworthy, loyal, helpful.

You're ruining it.

I really do like you, Deedee.

I still like you, too.

Hey, this is looking
Salinger-ish, isn't it?

Look.

This is exactly
what she described.

What do you think?

Should we?

Yeah.

You think?

It could be.

Jesus, my knees are shaking.

Look.

Oh, my God, that's him.

All right, let's go.

I don't know what to say.

Make it good.

Yes. What is it?

Sir, could you please tell me

where I can find
Jerome David Salinger?

I am he. What do you want?

Mr. Salinger,

I've been looking for you
for over a year.

Why didn't you write?

Harold Ober told me not to.

Harold Ober has been dead

for 10 years.

I mean, the Harold Ober Agency,

Allen, I think,
the guy's name was.

Yes, yes. Okay.

Why didn't you listen to him?

Sir, I can't really
hear you from up there.

Do you think he's coming down?

I don't know.

I really hope so.

It's okay, you're doing great.

Thanks.

Here he comes.

Hello, Mr. Salinger.

I'm Jamie Schwartz.

This is Deedee Gorlin.

Well, what do you want?
Why have you come?

Well, sir,

I've had a pretty
rough time in school.

And...

when I read your book,
The Catcher in the Rye,

it just felt like
for the first time,

somebody understood me.

It's as if someone
wrote down the exact thoughts

I had in my head.

So,

I adapted it into a play.

That's a terrible idea.

The Catcher in the Rye
was created for the stage

in people's minds.

It mustn't be interpreted.

It cannot be done successfully.

Well, that's just it, sir.

I didn't interpret
The Catcher in the Rye.

It's all your words.

I even say on the front page
of the script

in a note to the director

that it must not be
an interpretation

but a door through
which the story flows freely.

No, it's impossible.

Anytime you put a boy
on the stage

with a trench coat and a red hat

and call him Holden Caulfield,

that is interpretation.

Anytime you put a little girl
on the stage

in pajamas and call her Phoebe,

that is interpretation.

Acting is interpretation.

Well, if you put on a play

and somebody films the play,

that film is not
an interpretation.

Then what's the point?

Well, the point
is to touch people

the way I've been touched.

To give people a chance
to experience

and to know Holden Caulfield,

people who wouldn't
have known him otherwise.

You know Holden Caulfield?

Yes, sir, I do.

What did you expect me to say?

I have been offered fortunes

from people who wanna do this.

Elia Kazan offered me
a million dollars.

What could you possibly
offer me?

Well, I guess I can't
offer you anything

except that this was done
with a pure heart,

not for financial gain.

You know, this pains me.

It just grieves me
and it depresses me

that someone your age
should do this.

Do you realize

how often someone like you

comes up my driveway?

That wrote plays?

No, they don't write plays.

Where did you come from?

Well, home is New Jersey

but we just drove up
from Crampton Prep,

my boarding school
in Pennsylvania.

Didn't you know

I would say no to you?

- Didn't you realize?
- No.

No, I thought
if you just read the script,

I mean, it's your play.

I never wrote a play.

Okay, it's your book.

That's what I meant.

But the play
has 99% your dialogue.

Sir, I've had such a rough time

in school.

And The Catcher in the Rye

just found me at the right time.

I know, you have told me that.

A bunch of kids
broke into his room

at 3:00 in the morning
to beat him up.

Is it possible he deserved it?

Or maybe he took a risk

and stood up for someone
and tried to...

Deedee, it's okay.

Maybe I did deserve it.

But, Mr. Salinger,

that doesn't change anything.

These are my children.

They belong to me.

They're mine.

Now, I have to go.

Mr. Salinger,

look, I don't say this
to be disrespectful

and I say it with all sincerity.

But don't you believe
in the Bible

where it says
it's the role of the parent

to raise the child into maturity

and then let them go
into the world?

I mean, don't you believe
The Catcher in the Rye

has matured and then it's time

to let it go into the world?

No, that is a terrible analogy.

The Catcher in the Rye
never grows old.

Phoebe and Holden

are eternally
the same young age.

You look like
a creative young man.

Why don't you write
an original play?

Well, absolutely, I will.

But I just...

I feel like
I had to do this first.

Son,

you can throw away
everything I said,

but it boils down to this.

If you do that play,

you're stealing.

I'm telling you,

do not do this play.

Mr. Salinger,

this play means
everything to me.

He's a perfect Holden, sir.

No,

he isn't.

Please, sir.

I'm sorry, I have to go.

Mr. Salinger.

Yes?

Can we, at least,
keep in contact?

No.

There's nothing
to keep in contact about.

Well,
we met ♪.ID. Salinger.

You shook his hand.

I'm sorry, Jamie.

♪ I thought
if I fought you ♪

♪ In the open field ♪

♪ Your bayonet
would crack ♪

♪ On my hot iron shield ♪

♪ But you caught
me running ♪

♪ Now I'm at your command ♪

♪ A servant to forces ♪

♪ That I don't understand ♪

I wanna go to Maine.

I can't go to Maine, Jamie.

I have to go home.
Come on, sure you can.

It's beautiful as hell up there.

We could... we can go hang out

until the money runs out

and when the money runs out,

I could get a job...
Jamie, stop.

You're freaking me out.

Look, you're quoting Holden.

I just want us to go back

to Pennsylvania.

All right.
I'll hitchhike then.

Jamie, please.

It's practically night.

Well, if I go now,
I can get a ride.

♪ Who would
be following... ♪

I don't know why

but I'm scared for you, Jamie.

Well don't be, I'm fine.

♪ Who would believe ♪

♪ That the
shepherd was me ♪

How about you go in the morning?

I'll take you to the interstate
in the morning,

I promise, okay?

♪ ...commits
original sin ♪

♪ When that last
ray decays ♪

♪ From the boardwalk
parades ♪

♪ Yours is the longest ♪

♪ Shadow to fade ♪

Where are you going?

I'm gonna go downstairs

and use the payphone
to call my parents,

they were expecting me tonight.

♪ I had a feeling ♪

♪ That you wanted to stay ♪

Information.
In Hightstown, New Jersey.

Could you please give me
the telephone number

for Elizabeth Schwartz?

One moment, please.

Hello?
Hello, Mrs. Schwartz?

Yes?

This is Deedee Gorlin.

I'm a friend of Jamie's.

Oh, my God.

Do you know where he is?

Yes, he's with me.

Where are you?

Where's Jamie?

He's upstairs right now,

he doesn't know I'm calling.

Where are you?

Somewhere in New England.
I can't say

but I'm trying to get him

to go back to school or home,

I really am.

But he wants to go to Maine

to see Gerry.

Gerry?

So, did you turn me in?

What's wrong?

Jamie, why didn't you tell me?

Tell you what?

That Gerry's dead?

What do you mean?

Your mom told me

that he died in Vietnam.

No, no, he's just missing,

he's just missing.

Missing? But...
I can't believe

that she said that.

Jamie, it's okay.

No, it isn't.

If I just told my mom
in the first place,

then he'd still be at Newberry

or he'd be at the Tate School.

Jamie, no, it's not your fault.

Then whose fault is it, whose?

God damn it,

why did she have to tell you...

Why didn't you tell me?

Because if I talk about him,

he'll just fade away.

No, Jamie,

you have to talk about him.

And talking about him

makes him more real.

Look, Holden talked about Allie,

he talked about Allie a lot.

Yeah. But not just
to anybody.

I mean, he was talking
to the reader.

Well, that's because he'd been,

you know,
talking to a doctor, right?

And he was getting better.

Is that part of why
you wanna play him?

Oh, great, first I'm queer,

now, I'm crazy.

I'm not saying you're crazy,

I was talking about Holden
and how he talked about Allie,

maybe...

because he was getting help.

So I need help?

No.

You just need to start talking

to people about Gerry.

To me, at least.

I don't know if I can.

What are you thinking?

That if I go home now,

we'll never see
each other again.

Jamie,

of course, we will.

No, we won't.

I have a car.

Deedee, it's four hours away.

And even if you did

come to visit sometimes,

it would be different.

You can end up meeting some guy

and I might end up
meeting some girl.

It's just the way that it works.

What choice do we have?

♪ You caught ♪

♪ Me running ♪

♪ Now I'm at your command ♪

♪ A servant to forces ♪

♪ That I don't understand ♪

♪ You were the
shepherd... ♪

You're shaking.

Yeah, I know,

look, even my voice is shaking.

Jamie, you're the bravest boy
I've ever met.

♪ When that
poet decides ♪

♪ How the heroine dies ♪

♪ He commits original sin ♪

Abandon all hope,

ye who enter here.

♪ When that last ray ♪

♪ Decays
from the boardwalk parades ♪

♪ Yours is the longest ♪

♪ Shadow to fade ♪

The world is a beautiful place

to be born into

if you don't mind happiness

not always being
so very much fun.

If you don't mind
the touch of hell every now

and then just when everything
is fine

because even in heaven,

they don't sing all the time.

Yes, the world is the best
place of all

for a lot of such things

as making the fun scene,

making the love scene,

making the sad scene,

and singing low songs,

and having inspirations.

And walking around looking
at everything

and smelling flowers
and goosing statues

and even thinking
and kissing people,

and making babies,

and wearing pants,

and waving hats, and dancing,

and going swimming in rivers
on picnics,

in the middle of the summer,

and just generally,

living it up, yes.

But then right
in the middle of it

comes the smiling mortician.

Sit down, Jamie.

Son, you've given us

plenty of grounds to expel you.

Yes, sir.
I don't know what to say.

We know that some students

have been giving you a hard time

and your room was vandalized.

I don't know anything
about that, sir.

You don't know
you were being harassed?

No, sir.

Well, anyway,
your room has been restored

and certain students
have been dealt

with accordingly.

Now, your mother called

to tell me
you've been hanging out

with ♪.ID. Salinger?

How does this come about?

Well, I was trying
to contact him

with respect
to my senior project

but I wasn't having any luck.

You just picked up
and went to his house?

Yes, sir.

How the hell did you find him?

Do you know what restitution is?

A euphemism for punishment.

Well, not exactly.
But in this case,

I think you're right.

Jamie, at chapel tomorrow

in the appropriate attire.

I want you to tell the school

how you came
to find ♪.ID. Salinger

and what transpired between you.

With all due respect, sir,

I think that's a horrible idea.

I... I... I just think
it's like going straight

from the pot
into the frying pan or,

you know, however that
expression works.

I think people would be
very interested

to hear what you have to say.

I want you to do this, Jamie.

Hello.

Mr. Dewitt asked me

to tell you how I came to find

and talk to ♪.ID. Salinger
this weekend.

Well,

it started...

It started with...

All right.
Try this.

Why don't you pretend

that it's someone you love?

It started
with my brother, Gerry.

He died in Vietnam.

It's not my place, sir.

It's not.
It's Salinger's.

And he asked me not to.

Jamie, it's your senior project.

Nobody's making
any money off of it.

Or taking anything away
from Salinger for that matter.

The fact is, he won't
even know about it.

The project was to write

and produce the play.

If you wanna pass

and graduate this spring,

you have to complete
the project.

Think of it
as a scholarly investigation

into whether Salinger
was correct

that the play
can't be done successfully.

If you miss the mark,

your fellow students
will let you know.

And if Jamie doesn't
wanna play Holden Caulfield,

we'll just give that role
to Ted Tyler.

So the play went on

and it turned out to be
pretty damn good.

Maureen made a hell
of a Sally Hayes

but kissing her
holds no attraction

to me anymore.

And boobs in general

are no big deal either.

And being Holden,

Ted Tyler
made a damn good Holden.

It actually made me
really happy.

Having him play that role
was, like,

for the first time
I really let myself go.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Bravo.

Come in.
Hey.

- Hey.
- That play was good,

Schwartz.

That play was great.

Did you hear that audience?

Yeah, I think everyone
was just being nice.

I think I'm getting, like,
the sympathy vote.

No. No way, man.

I'm telling you it was boss.

Everyone's saying it.

It blew everyone away.

- Really?
- Yeah.

And,

I owe you an apology.

I was wrong about you.

How so?

You got some pretty big balls.

Thanks.

And,

you know,
I just wanted you to know

that I wasn't a part
of that group

that came to your room.
But, I mean,

I should've tried to stop them.

You were a great Holden, Ted.

You think?
Yeah, I do.

I really, really, really do.

You know, Salinger, man,

he got it all wrong.

That play is the ticket.

You think I should tell him?

- No.
- Well, I'm gonna.

You're what?
Yeah,

I'm gonna give it
to him like this.

I took my name off it.

You're crazy, man.

Why would you take
your name off of it?

Because it's not my play.

It's... I just sort of condensed

the book and I...

I wanna give it to him
as a gift,

no strings attached.

And you think

if it ever gets produced

you'll play Holden?

No. No.

I'll definitely
put you up for it.

All right.

All right.

But I'll need your car.

Hey, Deedee.

You know when you asked me
if I was jealous

of Hank and the other guys,

well,

I think I was,

just like you said.

I mean, I don't think
that's why I went to Leverett.

I... I mean, I really
was worried about him.

And I was freaking out
about my brother, but,

I didn't wanna lose Hank, too.

You loved him?

Yeah.

I mean, I couldn't kiss him
or anything.

I can't imagine
something like that,

but maybe I did love him.

Is that weird?

Personally,

I think it's beautiful

but boys get freaked out

about stuff like that,
don't they?

Yeah.

And in all boys schools

there must be a lot
of weird loving

and a whole lot
of freaking out going on.

I don't know how you did it.

♪ And a light
in the window ♪

♪ To pass the
night through ♪

♪ Maybe so uncertain
but what can I do ♪

♪ Keeping it on ♪

♪ Keeping it on ♪

♪ And I know I like it ♪

♪ But what does
that prove? ♪

♪ Sometimes I worry
I don't know ♪

♪ How to love you ♪

Are you scared?

Yeah.

Don't be.

But I'll turn the car around

in case we have to make
a quick getaway.

Jamie.

Yeah.

Your script.

Oh. Thanks.

Yes?

What is this?

Oh. Sadie.
Sorry.

Hey, never mind.

Never mind.
Sorry.

I'm trying to get out of here.

Mr. Salinger, sir,

please don't be mad at me
but we did your play.

You're the kid
who was here this fall.

Yes, sir.

Well, come in.

Come in. Come in.

Come on.
Okay.

Sorry.

Here, sit.

Look, first of all,

it's Jamie, right?

Yes, sir.

Well, first off,

I never wrote a play.

I don't write plays.

I write books.

Second of all,

how'd it go?

Oh, man, Mr. Salinger, it...

it was a huge success.

People stood up
and they cheered...

Cheer and cried, yeah.

You were there?

No, I wasn't there.

You're not the first person
to have done this.

There's a group
in New York that did it.

There's a group,

up on the Hudson did it.

The reaction is always the same,

they stand up, they clap,

they cheer and they cry.

But you said

it couldn't be done
successfully?

And the truth is, I don't care.

I hate the theater.

I hate film.

I hate the critics.

And it's just my way

of thumbing my nose at them.

They'll never get

The Catcher in the Rye.

Holden and Phoebe

will stay just the way they are.

Mr. Salinger,

I took my name off the script

and I just wanted

- to give it to you in case...
- No,

I don't wanna see it.

I don't wanna see it.

Okay, but...

I don't wanna see it.

Okay. Okay.

And don't leave it here.

All right. I won't.

Good.

Now, I have to go pick up

my son Matthew at the station.

You need a ride?

No, thanks.

I've got a car down

at the bottom of your driveway.

Whatever happened
to your friend,

Deedee?

Yeah, she's in the car.

She wanted me to do this alone.

I see.

She's a nice girl.

Yeah, she is.

She really is.

Thank you,
Mr. Salinger.

You're a very
creative boy, Jamie.

Go do something of your own.

I will, sir, I promise.

Yeah.

How did it go?

He was incredible.

He asked about the play
and everything, yeah.

Really?
Yeah.

But he didn't want the script.

He didn't want it
anywhere near him.

He says that
The Catcher in the Rye

will never be anything
but a book.

Jamie, I'm so sorry.

No, it's okay, really.
It's all right.

Listen, Holden wanted a house

near the woods but not in them

so it could be sunny
as hell all the time.

He wanted to put kids
in glass cases

so they never change or grow old

or anything.
And he wanted

people to write so he'd be done

with stupid conversations

with people like us.
Remember the first thing

Salinger said to us was,
"Why didn't you write?"

I can never be Holden.

He lives here on Beacon Hill.

♪ Maybe when ♪

♪ The winter's gone ♪

♪ We'll sleep in the sun ♪

♪ And dance at dawn ♪

♪ So call me once ♪

♪ Or just five times ♪

♪ Because I'm never sick ♪

♪ Of tearing times ♪

♪ Where I'm going ♪

♪ Where I'm going ♪

♪ Well, I don't know yet ♪

♪ I just know ♪

♪ That I'm going home ♪

♪ And all I know ♪

♪ Is I'm going home ♪

♪ I'm going home ♪

♪ I'm going home ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I want to wish you well ♪

♪ I didn't watch you go ♪

♪ Because I suppose ♪

♪ I don't know how ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I will remember you ♪

♪ Not the way you left ♪

♪ But how you lived ♪

♪ And what you knew ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I want to feel
your hands ♪

♪ I want to feel
your fire burning ♪

♪ Right from
where I stand ♪

♪ I'll find my way ♪

♪ You showed me ♪

♪ How I'll find my way ♪

♪ Because you
showed me how ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I want to know it's you ♪

♪ When I hear your voice ♪

♪ Inside my head ♪

♪ Inside my room ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I want to touch the sky ♪

♪ I want to see ♪

♪ The stars twinkle ♪

♪ Like they were
your eyes ♪

♪ I'll find my way ♪

♪ You showed me ♪

♪ I'll find my way ♪

♪ Because you
showed me how ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I want to smell
your scent ♪

♪ I want to breathe ♪

♪ The air I did before ♪

♪ Before you left ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I want to wish you well ♪

♪ The only reason ♪

♪ My heart beats ♪

♪ Is because you
showed it how ♪

♪ I'll find my way ♪

♪ You showed me how ♪

♪ You showed me how ♪