A Separate Peace (1972) - full transcript

GENE: I'd always dreaded
the thought of returning
to the Devon school

because of what
happened there during
my last year as a student.

Now that I was back
after all these years,

I was surprised to see
how peaceful it looked.

'Course the
Second World War
was going on then,

that had made a difference,
even at Devon.

As I crossed
the school grounds,

I could feel myself
becoming isolated
from everything,

except my memories.

I knew that
there was one place
that I had to see.

And as I started across
the field toward it,



all of the fear,
the anger,

the senseless rivalries
I'd lived with then, returned.

And that reminded me of Finny.

The tree.

I had to see that.

It's always loomed in my
memory as a huge spike
dominating the river bank.

Yet, here it was.

No giant. Hmm!

It was not only stripped
by the cold season,

it seemed weary from age,

enfeebled, dry.

I guess nothing
really endures.

Not a tree, not love,

not even a death
by violence.



For the first time,
I could remember it all.

The tree, the war,

and most of all, Finny.

Ahh!

Ho!

Wait for me!

Hey, Finny,
wait for me!

[YELLS]

[LAUGHING]

Hey!

[INDISTINCT]

Take the
high ground!

Come on!

Hey, Chet,
chuck it to me.

What I like best
about this tree is,
it's such a cinch.

Is that what
you like best?

Yup.

This is my
contribution
to the war effort.

GENE: Hey, come down!

Come up!

Don't do it.

Whoo!

That's the most fun
I've had this week.
Who's next?

[FINNY CHUCKLES]

All right,
who's next?

FINNY: Come on, Gene!

That's the way.

Let's go!

Come on, get up there!

Come on, hurry up!

Gene, come on!

Come on, Gene, jump.

Come on!

Come on, now.
When they torpedo
the troopship

you can't stand there
admiring the view.

Jump, will ya!

That's one way!

BRINKER: I think that was
better than yours, Finny.

All right, Brinker.

But don't start
awarding prizes until
you've passed the test.

Gentlemen,
the tree is waiting.

Finny, I'm not
going to permanently
damage myself,

following your
silly lead.

I detect a note
of fear, Brinker.

And I am unimpressed
by immaturity.

How about you, Leper?

Well, I think that
jumping out of a tree
is a dumb thing to do.

Trees should be looked at.

[GIGGLING]

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

It's you, pal.
Just you and me.

You were really
good once I shamed
you into it.

Aw, you didn't
shame anybody
into anything.

Oh yes, I did.
I'm good for
you that way.

You back away
from things otherwise.

I never backed
away from anything
in my life.

[LAUGHING]

GENE: Come on,
we'll be late
for dinner.

[GRUNTING]

[JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

Gad! I can't
get this stuff.

[BALL BOUNCING]

Hey, come on, Finny,
I have a lot
of work to do.

I'd appreciate it
if you'd keep quiet.

[IMITATES DRACULA]
Hallo, Gene.

Hallo,
Gene Forrester.

I want to drink
your blood.

You get all A's
and I get all C's.

You are the genius
and I the horse's ass.

[LAUGHS]

[CHOKING SOUNDS]

Hey, come on,
stop clowning around.

Oh, Christ!

I mean what's
the use, you know?

I could keep
studying forever.

Hey, gimme a break.

I'm saying my prayers
just in case it turns out
there is a God.

Amen.

WOMAN: What a beautiful
day for a party,

just beautiful.

WOMAN 2: Gentlemen,
lovely looking place.

Thank you very much.

Fingers were around
before tongs.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

How do you do?

Mr. Patchwithers,
thank you very much
for having us

to the party
here today, sir.

You couldn't have asked
for a more beautiful day.

MAN: Jack, I wanted
to, uh, speak to you
about an incident

that happened
before Pearl Harbor.

How are you ladies
doing these days
with Bundles for Britain?

We meet in my
apartment but...

Oh hello,
Mrs. Ludsbury,
Mr. Ludsbury.

Good afternoon.

Well, we were talking...

Talking about
the usual thing,

that man in
the White House.

Oh. Well, well.

You know,
you mustn't get
me started on that.

Well,
I understand that

people up here
rather approve of him.

Well, he's my
wife's cousin,
you know.

Hello, Mr. Easton.

Oh, how do you do. Oh, no, sit down.

Please, sit down.

Are you one
of these liberals?

WOMAN: We try to insist...

WOMAN 1: Would you
like some of these...

Then you know Pip here. Yes, of course I do.

Pip's the older one. Yeah, rowed very well.

My friends,
and indeed you
are my friends...

Well, Madeline,
do you remember...

WOMAN: We're going
to put you on the
impersonation radio,

Brinker,
you're great at this.

I think the best
thing is to take it up
with the trustees.

They're meeting Tuesday.

FINNY: It certainly
is pleasant here.

It's nice of you
to give this tea,
Mrs. Patchwithers.

As I was telling Gene,
I read the other day
we bombed Central Europe.

As long as we don't
hit any women or children
or old people or hospitals,

I think it's okay,
don't you?

We have to be
careful about
works of art too,

provided they are
of permanent value.

A lot of nonsense.

How do you
expect our boys
to be that precise?

Thousands of feet up
with bombs weighing tons.

Look what
the Germans
did to Amsterdam.

Look what they
did to Coventry.

Oh, but the Germans are not
Central Europeans, dear.

There is no
permanent art
in Central Europe.

A pink shirt
is at best

a lapse of taste,

but the use
of the school tie
for a belt...

[WHISPERS]
It's about time he got
his ass in a sling.

[SIGHS]

I wore this, you see,
because it goes
with the patriotic shirt.

It all ties in with
what we've been
talking about,

this bombing
of Central Europe?

Because when you
get right down to it,

the school's involved
in everything that
happens in the war.

It's the same war
and the same world

and I think Devon
ought to be included.

Now, I don't know whether
you think the same way
I do on that, but...

I never heard
anything so illogical
as that in my life.

That's probably the
strangest tribute

that Devon has
had in 160 years.

[WHISPERS]
I think he's gonna
get away with it.

Although I must admit,
I didn't think of it when
I put it on this morning.

I mean, I'm glad
I put on something
for a belt.

I certainly would hate
the embarrassment
of having my pants

fall down at the
Headmaster's tea.

Not to mention
in front of your
wife here.

[SNORTING]

[ALL LAUGHING]

Oh, outrageous!

All that talk, boy!

Yeah, it sure
was boring.

Who did most
of the talk,
by the way?

Well, the Headmaster's
pretty windy and his wife.

Yeah, and uh...

Well, you don't mean
that I talk too much.

You talk too much?

How can you
accuse me of
accusing you of that?

Hey, let's cut class and
go jump in the river.

The first person who says
anything unpleasant
gets a kick in the ass.

Yeah, I agree.

Listen, are you
still afraid to jump
out of that tree?

I would say there's
something a little unpleasant
about that question.

That depends
how you answer it.

I expect it'd be
a very pleasant jump.

Will you do me
the honor of jumping
out of the tree first?

My pleasure, old chap.

We'll form a society.

If a guy wants
to join, he's gotta
jump out of the tree.

The Suicide
Society of the
Summer Session.

Marvelous.

This is a
secret society.

Naturally,
you guys have guts
so you're all members.

We have certain
initiations, naturally.

You'll be
the first to jump.

Here.

[GRUNTING]

Okay, I got ya,
take it easy.
Here we are.

I changed my mind.

I'm not interested
in joining.

But everyone must join.
Right, Finny?

I don't want to
think about it.

Well, then naturally
you're out of the
secret society.

And I say
good riddance.FINNY: Not necessarily.

But, Finny,
you said that... Naturally,

one member is
entitled to a bye.

I hardly think
that's fair.

Leper's got
a yellow streak
a mile wide

and everyone's
aware of it.

Okay. So who's
the next hero?

You don't
have to make
allowances for me.

I don't need charity.

But we need you, Leper.

You'd be doing us
a favor to stick around.

Thanks, Finny,
for saying that.

You're a nice person.

Forget it, pal.
A man like you
is always needed.

BOY: Stroke!

Stroke!

Stroke!

Stroke!

[SCREAMING]

So how does it
feel to be class
valedictorian?

I'll be lucky
to get passing grades

if you don't stop
interrupting me. [LAUGHS]

You know I saw
something today

that literally
stupefied me.

And in my amazement,

I decided to
share it with
you, old bean.

Come on.

Come on.

FINNY: A. Hopkins Parker.

Who is this
A. Hopkins Parker anyway?

I mean, I don't
know anyone named
A. Hopkins Parker.

Well, he graduated
before us.

You mean that record's
been up there the whole time

we've been here at Devon
and no one's busted it yet?

Outrageous.

The thing is it's
an insult to the class.

I mean a guy
should have some
class loyalty, right?

Yes.

So we'll set
the bar at 13 feet.

Ooh!

You know what?

I thought
I was gonna do it.

I felt as though
I had a voice
inside my head

raising me higher than
A. Hopkins Parker.

But there aren't
any witnesses.

I'm no official judge,
I don't think your
new record will count.

Well of course
it won't count.

You can try it again
and do it tomorrow.

Forget it!

Tomorrow we'll call
the coach in here

and all the official
track and field judges.

I'll telephone
the school newspaper

to send out a reporter
and a photographer.

I'm not gonna
do it again.

Of course you are.

No, I just wanted to
see if I could do it.
Now I know.

But I don't want
to do it in public.

Listen, we aren't
gonna talk about
this, okay?

It's just
between us.

Don't tell anyone
else anything
about it, okay?

Not say anything?
But you broke
the school record.

Shh.

Jumping indoors
is screwy.

So let's go swimming
at the beach.

Mmm-mmm,
not a chance.

I have to study,
I've got an exam
in Trigonometry.

Come on.Uh-uh, not me.
I gotta work.

♪ How I love
The kisses of Dolores

♪ Ay, ay, ay, Dolores

Ugh, that's awful.
That's really awful.

What do you dislike most
about my character?

Your lethargy.

[LAUGHING]
I like that,
I really do.

[ALL SCREAMING]

[GUN BUZZING]

WOMAN: You not gonna
have no bad luck
in this war.

You understand,
what I'm saying?

I see peace of mind,
I see happiness for you.

Too many things
in your heart
for each other.

You'll be safe.

MAN: Beautiful day, lady,
here we go.

It's a beautiful day.
Come on in...

Get outta here, you kids.
You're underage.

Get out of here!
And stay out!

[CLOWN CACKLING]

Make a wish.
You're a little
bit stubborn.

You don't like
anyone to boss you.

I see for you two boys.

You got too much
sex in your mind.

Hey, red hot,
hot dogs here.
Red hots.

Hot dogs here.
Red hots.

Hot dogs.
How many over there?

[SCREAMING]

MAN: Red hots.

[GROWLING]

Red hot dogs.

Red hot.
Red hot dogs here.

Can we have
a couple more?

Couple more?
You had five
a piece already.

Get the money.

Hey, listen,
you don't know
where two kids

could pick up a little...
Little beer?

[FOG HORN HONKING]

I hope you're
having a pretty
good time here.

I mean, I know
I dragged you
away from school

when you
didn't really
wanna come.

After all,

you don't just
come to the beach
with anybody.

And you
don't just go
by yourself.

In this
teenage period
in your life,

the proper person to
come to the beach with,

is your best pal.

Which is what you are.

[SEAGULLS SQUAWKING]

[FOG HORN HONKING]

[YAWNING]

It's time for a swim.

Wow!

[FINNY WHOOPING]

Ah! Whoo!

Ah! Darn, it's cold.

Whoo! Oh!

Oh!

It's freezing.

Boy, nothing
like a morning
swim though.

Oh! Whoo!

FINNY: You're angry
at me, aren't you, pal?

No, not at all.

Ever since
the beach you've
been acting funny.

Really?

I mean, I thought
you wanted to go.
To the beach.

I'm worried
about something,
I suppose.

What?

When you said
we were best friends,

you remember,
at the beach?

Of course,
I remember.
You are.

When you actually
said that...

You thought I was
conning you, so that
you'd break rules

and stay on the beach
and cut class.

Forget it.
I'm worried
about something.

You've got a fever.

You're at death's door.

I missed an exam
this morning because
of the beach,

a really important one.

Trigonometry.

They give me a zero,
it'll ruin my average.

Is that what's
bothering you?

You'll get all A's anyway.
Like always.

You can make it up.

Maybe. I'm not so sure.

It doesn't do to
be so emotional.

You intellectuals
are all alike.

How would you
know, fatty?

Really?

A. Hopkins Parker
had no flab
on his tummy.

You okay, pal?
Forget the test.

FINNY: Now this
is everything you
need for sports.

All you really need
is a round ball.

And I think, it's about
time we got some
exercise around here.

We'll start
with this ball.

Let's call it something.

Let's make it
have something
to do with the war.

Like Blitzkrieg
or something.

Well,
run for Pete's sake.
Get up and run!

Hurry up!
No, not that way,
towards the river.

Come on, come on
come on, come on.
Move it!

Let's get him,
come on!

Come on, Brinker.

FINNY: Come on,
towards the river!

Hey, don't hog it.
Throw it to somebody else,

otherwise now
that you're surrounded

somebody's gonna
knock you down!

Do what?
What is this?

Blitz-ball!

FINNY: Now that
was illegal.

You don't use your
arms when you're knocking
down the ball carrier.

You don't?No, you keep
them crossed

on your chest just like
this and you just
butt the ball carrier.

All right, Gene,
start again.

Well, wouldn't somebody
else have possession,
I mean after...

Not after you've been
knocked down illegally.

So, it's okay,
you have the ball,
let's go!

Throw it!

[GRUNTING]

Hey, Brinker!

BOY: Throw!

FINNY: Knock him down!

What, are you crazy?

Knock him down!

He's on my team.

There aren't any
teams in Blitzball.

We're all enemies.

We're all enemies!

Knock him down!

Hey, Leper!

I don't want it.

Stop! Stop, stop.
Gene, come back, listen.

Leper has just brought
out a really important
fine point of the game.

The receiver
can refuse the pass
if he wants to.

Because we're
all enemies, we can

and will turn
on each other
at all times.

We'll call that the
Lepellier Refusal.

Here, Gene.

The ball is,
of course, still yours.

We'll go all the
way back to the other
end and start over.

Nobody's had
the ball but me!

Naturally the use of
the stiff arm is illegal.

Kicking, or rather
lashing out with
the feet is permitted

within 20 yards
of the pine trees.

That area is
to be referred to as
the kicking perimeter.

Arise, O Overseer
of the Super Society.

Elwin Leper Lepellier
has announced

his intention
to make the leap,

this very night,
to qualify,

to save his face
from the dreaded bye. Aw, Christ!

Hey, what's up? Studying.

You know, books?
Examinations.

This is a school
not a playground.

Go on.

You wouldn't know
what I'm talking about.
No, not you.

Okay, let's go watch
Leper not jump
from the tree,

it ought to be a riot.

In the meantime,
I ruin my grades.

I probably
won't even graduate.

Hold it, hold it,
wait a minute.

You mean,
you want to study?

Forget it.

Well, don't go.
What the hell, Gene,
it's only a game.

What?Well, I didn't know
you had to study.

I thought it just
came to you. Naturally.

Like sports do for me.

I don't think about sports,
I just go out and do 'em.

But I need to study.
How do you think
I get A's?

By hard work, that's how.
Even you have to study.

Me? Well, but we
aren't competing.

I could study forever
and never break C.

But with you,
it's different.

You're good.
You really are.

If I had a brain
like yours I'd have
my head cut open

so people
could look at it.

Face it, Gene.
You're gifted.

Gifted people don't
have to sweat or strain
or do anything unpleasant.

You're wrong.
I have to work.

It doesn't
come easy for me.

It's okay,
I'll oversee old Leper.

I know he's not
gonna do it anyway.

Hey, I'm coming.

[FINNY SINGING]
♪ Ay, ay, ay, Dolores

♪ Not Marie or Emily
or Doris

♪ Only my Dolores

♪ From a balcony
above me

♪ She whispers love me
and throws a rose ♪

What'd I tell you?
Nobody's here.

Let's go.
You and me,
we'll go together.

A double jump.

Great!

Come on, let's go.

Come on, let's go.
Come on!

Come on,
don't take all day.

Let's go!

Come on!

Let's go, slowpoke.

We haven't got
all day, Gene. Come on.

Come on!
We haven't got
all day! Let's go!

Come out a little way,
we'll jump side by side.

[GASPS]

[EXCLAIMS]

[SCREAMING] [TWIGS CRACKING]

[THUDS]

DR. STANPOLE:
He's lucky to be alive.

Although the
tibia is shattered,
he's improving.

But Finny'll
be all right.

Well, he must
still be pretty sick?

Well, it was
a messy break

but we'll have him
walking again.

Walking again?

Well, after a break
like that of course
sports are out.

We'll have to send
him home to recuperate.

But he must be able to,
I mean if his leg's
still there.

You're not gonna
amputate or anything,
are you?

I mean,
it must come back
the way it was.

Why shouldn't it?
Of course it will.

BRINKER:
Take it easy, Finny.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

See ya later, Finny.

Back Bay Station, Boston.
Back Bay Station, Boston.

FINNY: How was
your vacation, pal?

Well,
I spent most of it
thinking about you.

Sure you did.

I was thinking about
you and the accident.

Well,
that's friendship for you,

thinking about me
instead of enjoying yourself.

I was thinking about...

I mean, I made
a special trip here

instead of going
back to school.

I had to.

I was thinking
about the accident.

Because I caused it.

[CHUCKLES]

Sure you did.

I jounced the limb.
I caused it!

I think I deliberately
jounced the limb
so you'd fall out.

Of course you didn't.

Yeah, I did!

I did.

I did! I did!

[SPINET KEYS PLAYING]

I'm gonna hit you
if you don't shut up.

Hit me? Hit me?
You can't even get up.

You can't come near me.

I'm gonna
kill you if you
don't shut up.

Go ahead.

Kill me.

Now you see how it is.

I did it because
I felt like that.

Now you know yourself.

I don't know anything.

Go away. I'm tired
and you make me sick.

You'll be back at school
in a few weeks, won't you?

Sure, I'll be back
by Thanksgiving.

I've had a pretty long trip.

I never sleep
much on trains.

Guess I'm not making
much sense today.

Don't worry about it.

[SNIFFLES]

I better get back
to the station.

I'm already
a day late at Devon.

Well, you're not
going to start following
the rules, are you?

No, I wouldn't do that.

[WHISTLING]

[WHISTLING CONTINUES]

QUACKENBUSH:
To the shoulders, hup!

Ready, hup!

You're late, Gene.

Sorry, I got hung up. Did you ever row?

No, I never did.

I rowed for two years.
I wrestle in the winter.

What are you
gonna do in the winter?

I don't know, manage
something else I guess.

But you're a senior
now, aren't you?

Starting a little late
to manage teams,
aren't you?

Am I?

Damn right you are.

Ah, it doesn't matter.

Yes, it matters.

I don't think it does.

Who the hell do you
think you are anyway?

Quackenbush,
you don't know
anything about me.

Who I am,
what I've done
or anything!

Listen, you maimed
son of a bitch...

What's going on?

The next time you call
somebody maimed

you better make sure
they are first!

Get out of here.
You're not wanted here.

Get out! Get out of here!

BOY: Hey, Gene!
There's a call for you
in Ludsbury's study.

FINNY: Happy first day
of the academic year.

Yeah. Thanks a lot.

It's, uh, um...

It's good to
hear your voice.

[CHUCKLING]
You sound, uh...

Stop stuttering,
I'm paying for this.

Who're you rooming with?

Nobody. They didn't put
anyone else in the room.

Didn't think they would.
Roommates are roommates

even if they do have
an occasional fight.

God, you were crazy
when you were down here.

Yeah, I guess I was.

I guess I must've been.

Completely off your rocker.

I wanted to make sure
you'd recovered,
that's why I called up.

I knew that if you'd
let them put anyone
else in the room

in my place, then you
really were crazy.

But you didn't.

I knew you wouldn't.

No, I didn't let them.

So I spent all my money
on a long distance
phone call all for nothing.

Well,
it's spent on you too,
so start talking, pal.

Start with sports.
What are you
going out for?

Well, crew.

Well,
not exactly crew,
managing crew.

Assistant crew manager.

Assistant crew manager!

Well, I don't think
I've got the job.

Assistant crew manager.
You're crazy!

Look, Finny, I don't
care if I'm a big man
on campus or anything.

Who said
anything about that?

Well, what're you getting
so worked up for?

Well, what do you want
to manage crew for?

What do you want
to manage for?

What's that got
to do with sports?

I'm too busy for sports. Bullshit!

Now listen, pal,
if I can't play sports

then you're gonna just
have to play 'em for me.

Bye for now. [LINE DISCONNECTS]

Well, you should see
how hard we work there.

The coach, he said...

Hey, Gene! Hi, Charlie.

Hi, Brink. BRINKER: Hi.

Hey, uh,
anyone got the time?

It's about
five minutes of.

Five minutes of!
Judas Priest,
I got to get out of here.

See you later,
you guys.

[INDISTINCT TALKING] BOY: Take it easy. Right.

What's happening today?

Anything exciting? [CHET CHUCKLES]

Just bullshitting
again, right?

Phew!

Well, there's
your prisoner, boys.

I'm turning him over
to the proper authorities.

What's the charge? Doing in his roommate

so he could have
a whole room to himself.

Rankest treachery.
Practically fratricide.

You'll have your
say in court.

Brinker, you hang
onto a joke longer
than anybody I know.

So you killed him?

Well, not exactly.

Our poor Finny is lying
at this moment, home,
in the arms of his mom.

Aw, poor Finny!

I didn't do
anything to Finny.

Nothing serious.

Well, a little arsenic
in his morning coffee,
that's all.

Ah! Trying to
weasel out with
a false confession.

We know the scene
of the crime.

High in that
funeral tree.

No poison, oh, no.

Oh, you know
about that tree? Yeah, the tree.

Oh, yeah.
Well, nothing much
happened up there.

Nothing very
exciting anyway.

Now tell us
about the tree.

Well, first of all
I took all his money.

Then I screwed his sister
in confessional at church.

[BOYS CHUCKLING] BOYS: Yeah, sure you did!

Well, I got to
do some French.

Enough of this shit.
I'll see you all around.

Yeah, so long.
Take it easy. See ya later, Gene.

Bye, Gene.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]

Hi, Gene. Hello, Leper.
What're you doing?

Not doing anything
special, just getting
through Saturday.

You're doing a painting?

You might say that,
I'm not very good, you know.

Can I see? No, I don't think so.

Okay.

Real paintings have
emotional content.

They reflect the artist's
inner feelings.

I'm not a true artist.

Have you heard
from Finny?

Not for a while.

How is he?

He's okay I guess.

Things are really crummy
with Finny gone.

I really like Finny.

Yeah, I know.

So do I.

He's not really
a person, that Finny.

He's more of a phenomenon.

Yeah.

He's a phenomenal person.

You have a shovel
across your shoulder.

You resemble the militia.

In Chapel today
they asked us to
shovel snow off

the railroad tracks
at the station.

To help with
the war effort.

I cut Chapel.

Want to help shovel?

No thanks.

I don't have any interest
in the war effort.

[TRAIN HOOTING
IN THE DISTANCE]

Hey, how old
are you guys?

Not old enough.

You will be.

Hey, bring me back
one of those Samurai swords.

You know what
you can do with that?

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

[TRAIN HOOTS]

[HORN BLARING]

Finny! Hey, whaddya say?

How are ya?

That's what I like,
a real hello.

[CHUCKLES]

Gosh!

I'm glad to be back. I'm glad too.

So what's been happening?

Well, a lot of people
are talking about enlisting.

Oh, sure, the war.

Brinker wants
to join the Marines.
So does Bobby.

You know...[BRINKER SINGING]

♪ From the halls
of Montezuma
to the shores of Tripoli ♪

Hey, Gene,
ready to enlist?

Ready to enlist in what?

Finny, you're back!

Hi, Brinker.
What do you say?

Sorry, your little plot
didn't work out after all.

What plot? Ah, you know Brinker,
he's full of it.

You know what
I'm talking about.

No I don't. Yes, you do.

You telling me
what I know?

Damn right I am.

What's he talking about?

He wants me to enlist.

You know, run off
and join the Marines.

BRINKER: Yeah.
I suspect we're
officer material.

You're gonna enlist.

You've really swallowed
this war crap.

Uh, I don't think
I get you.

Well, you must really think
the United States of America

is at war
with Nazi Germany,
and Imperial Japan.

I most certainly do.

[SCOFFS]

You guys ever heard of
the Roaring Twenties?

Yeah, sure.

Uh-huh.Go on.

You know, they all
drank bathtub gin and
everyone who was young

did whatever
they wanted to.

Well, the old ladies
and the stuffed shirts
and the preachers

didn't like that
so they arranged Prohibition.

But that didn't work
because everyone just
proceeded to get drunker.

So
they got desperate,

and they invented
the Depression.

And that kept people
who were young in
the '30s in their place,

but they couldn't use
that trick forever

so for us in the '40s
they cooked up this war fake.

Who are they anyhow?

Well, you know,
the fat old men

who don't want us
encroaching on their jobs.

They made it all up.

There isn't any real
food shortage, for instance.

They all have
the best steaks delivered
to their clubs now.

You've noticed
they've been
getting fatter lately.

First of all,
you're speaking treason.

Second of all,
you're insane and quite
ready for the loony bin.

But, Brinker,
the whole world's
already in the nut house.

It's only the fat,
old men who understand
the joke, though.

And you?Yeah, and me.

What the hell
makes you so special?

Why should you
get the joke and all the rest
of us stay in the dark?

Because I've suffered.
God damn it!

Out of shape,
aren't you, pal?

No, not really.
[SNIFFLES]

Look, I'm the one with
the bad leg, not you.

There's no sense
in both of us being
out of shape.

Did I ever tell you
I was aiming
for the Olympics?

No, you never did.

Well, I was.

But now I'm not
completely sure
I'll be healed in time.

So, I guess,
I'm coaching you
for them instead.

But there
aren't gonna be
any Olympics in 1944.

I mean the war. Forget it.

We're grooming you
for the '44 Olympic Team.

FINNY: Twenty eight.

Twenty nine. [GROANS]

Thirty!

Great! In a week
you'll be able to do 40.

You're not even winded.

I know.

You found your
rhythm, didn't you?

That fourth time around,
just into the straight
part there.

Yeah, right there.

You've been pretty lazy
all along, haven't you?

Yeah,
I guess I have.

You didn't even
really know anything
about yourself.

I guess I didn't.

This time I want you
to really sprint. Come on!

Beautiful!
You cut five seconds
off of yesterday.

[GENE PANTS]

Hey, isn't that Leper? Yeah.

I had no idea
he was that good.

Yeah, you
can train him for
the Winter Olympics.

Not a bad idea.
Hey, Leper!

Leper!

Leper, come here!
Come on up!

Come on, Lep! Come on, Lep!

You might say
I was getting good. I'd say that, Leper.

You look like a real pro. I try to.

You might even make the
United States Olympic team.

This isn't
for sports at all.
It's for me.

What's that mean?

A recruiter from
the American Ski Troops
showed a film last week.

It revealed
something to me.

Skiers winged down slopes,
silent as angels,

chests filled
with mountain air.

You're practicing
for the war?

Of course.

[HUFFS] The war is a fake.

Tell him, Gene.

I'm enlisting.
I turned 18 today.

See you around.
You're lucky because
you're still 17.

MR. LUDSBURY: The date
might be helpful.

October 25, 1412.

And of course
you will need to know

Crispin Crispian.

What is Crispin Crispian?

That is what
you shall learn from
the memory passage.

Crispin Crispian.

You have one week

in which to memorize
these lines.

And we still have
a little time before
the end of class

so perhaps we should
hear these lines.

Oh, uh, Mr. Ludsbury,
we know how well
you read Shakespeare,

so would you
read it for us?

Why don't I read it? BOYS: Yeah.

I shall do better
than that.

I shall act it for you.

[ALL CHUCKLING]

"He that shall
live this day
and reach old age,

"Will yearly, on the vigil,

"feast his neighbors
and say,

"'Tomorrow is
Saint Crispian.'

"Then will he
strip his sleeve
and show his scars,

"and say,
'These wounds I had
on Crispin's Day.'

"All men forget"

[WHISPERS] You know what
we ought to do next Saturday?

We ought to form the
Winter Carnival Committee.

Cut it out.
We don't have
a Winter Carnival.

We do now.

Maybe there'll
be a ski jump,
slalom races, track,

music and something to eat.

"As household words..." You're crazy.

Are you gentlemen
quite finished?

Sorry, sir.

Exeunt omnes.

I do hope you'll be
a little more attentive
in Latin class.

I hereby declare
these games open!

[BOYS CHEERING]

[GUNSHOT]

[GUNSHOT]

[CHUCKLING]

On your marks,
get set...

[GUNSHOT]

BRINKER: Damn it, Phineas.
Let's get this thing started.

Phineas, it's cold.
I want to go inside. Oh shut up, Brinker.

Give me my prize.
I want my prize.

Phineas, what's next? You are.

Give him some cider. [BOYS SHOUTING]

I've been violated!

Hey! Finny. Finny!
There's a telegram!

Finny! A telegram!

Hey, shut up!

It's a telegram for Gene!

Must be
the Olympic Committee. Yeah.

I knew they wanted him.
[CHUCKLING]

"Gene, have escaped and...

"Escaped and need help.

"I'm at the
Christmas location.

"My safety depends
on your coming.

"Don't let me down.

"Leper."

Your mother's
probably pleased
to have you home.

What's she got
to be pleased about?

I'm pleasing myself.

How long you
gonna be home?

How long?

What a stupid question.

Well, I mean if
you're on furlough,
you must know

when you have
to go back.

The Army just
doesn't give out
passes and say,

"Come back when
you've had enough."

I don't have a pass.

What?

What's the matter,
you deaf? I said,
I don't have a pass.

I know you said
you escaped but
I thought that...

I escaped,
that's just what I meant.

What do you mean?
Nobody escapes
from the Army.

What the hell
do you know about it?

Nothing, I guess.

I mean, I don't know
what's normal in the Army.

What a dumbass word.
Normal.

I can tell
what you're thinking.

That I'm not normal.

That I'm some sort
of psycho. Say it!

Stop it, Leper. They were gonna
give me a Section Eight.

That's for
the nuts in service.

It's like a dishonorable
discharge, only worse.

Because you
can't even get
a job after that.

They want to see
your discharge papers.

You're screwed
for life, that's what
a Section Eight means!

Come on, Leper.

That's tough shit
for you, Mac.
They've got you.

Nobody's got me.

Oh they've
got you, all right.

Don't tell me
who's got me and
who hasn't got me.

Who do you think
you're talking to?

Who do you
think you are?

You were always
the Lord of the Manor.

A swell guy except
when the chips were down.

You always were
a savage underneath.

I always knew that
but never admitted it.

Like that time you
knocked Finny out
of the tree.

You stupid crazy bastard!

You crippled him for life!

You always were
a savage underneath.

I'm sorry.

I forgot myself.

You said
something crazy
and I forgot.

Your nerves, the war,
you didn't know what
you were saying.

Did you come here
to abuse me?

I'm sorry.

No, don't go.

FINNY: Leper's absent
without leave, isn't he?

BRINKER: Leper? I guess he just didn't
like the Army.

BRINKER: He was
too scared for it,
wasn't he?

You could
put it that way. He panicked.

He simply fell apart.

He must be out
of his mind to do
such a thing.

I'll bet he
cracked up.

Well he did,
in a way.

Poor dumb Leper.
What's he doing
with himself?

Well, he's very upset.

He's afraid they'll find him
and bring him back for trial.

What's the matter
with our class?

It's not even June and we
already have two guys out
for the duration.

Two?

Well, there's Finny here.

Yeah, there's me. Finny isn't out of it!

Of course he is.

Yeah, I'm out of it.

So what? It's a fake.
The war's an invention
of fat old men.

Sure.

CAPTAIN: I'd like to
begin this morning

by making one thing
perfectly clear.

In a few months
most of you
will be graduating

and at that time,
it's gonna be up to you

to choose your own
branch of service.

Well, I'm not here,
repeat, not here

to convince you to join
any one branch
over any other one.

There's a call...

You've been avoiding
the whole question
of enlisting.

I think I know why.

It's Finny. You pity him. Pity him?

Yes, and if you don't
watch out he's gonna
start pitying himself.

Nobody ever mentions
his leg to him except me.

[CLAPPING]

You'll have him sloppy
with self-pity. Face it.

He's crippled
and that's that.
He's got to accept it.

It's up to us
to act naturally and
even kid him about it.

You're wrong.
I can't even hear you,
you're so wrong.

Well, I'm going to anyway.

No, you're not.

I don't need
your approval, do I?

He's my roommate.
He's my best friend.

And you were there
when it happened.

I mean, it wouldn't do you
any harm if everything
about Finny's accident

were cleared up
and forgotten, would it?

What do you
mean by that?

Nobody knows.

Unless you know.

CAPTAIN:
Believe in our program.
We feel the same way.

We gonna win this war.

With your help
we can do it.

You better do this, pal.
I'm completely lost.

[SIGHING]
Okay, let's see.

Caesar instructed him
to come as quickly
as possible

by long forced marches,
to him.

With three legions.

He himself...
Caesar that is. Yeah.

Sent cavalry to withstand
any sudden attacks
of the enemy.

When the Gauls learned
what was going on...

Um...
They sent infantry men.

They scattered
a selected band
of infantry men

in ambushes

who, overtaking
our horsemen

after the death
of Vertiscus,

uh, followed
our disorganized men
to our camp.

[CHUCKLING]

I have a feeling that

that's what Mr. Horn
would call...

BOTH: A muddy translation.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

Well, what's it mean?

Well that there means
that ole Caesar's
in a lot of trouble.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

Oh, Jesus!

Well, I have a sincere
and personal grudge
against Julius Caesar.

I absolutely refuse
to believe in him.

It's a dead language
and a dead empire
and I say the hell with it.

Naturally, I don't
believe books and I don't
believe teachers

but I do believe you.

And if you tell me
there's a Caesar
then maybe there is.

You told me about Leper.

That he's gone crazy.

If a war can drive
somebody crazy then
it's real all right.

I guess, I knew it
all along, I just didn't
have to admit it.

To tell you the truth
I wasn't completely
sure about you

when you told me
how Leper was.

But then
I saw him myself.

You saw Leper?Mmm-hmm.

I saw him hiding
in the shrubbery
next to the Chapel.

He looked up at me
and I went up to him,
and he looked at me

but he didn't say
a damn thing.

He just looked at me
like I was a gorilla
or something.

Then he ducked
into Ludsbury's office.

He must be crazy.

There isn't a damn thing
we can do about it.

I don't want
to see him.

I mean there's
nothing for us to do.

Maybe Doctor Stanpole
could do something.

You won't talk to anyone
about this because

they'd just upset Leper.

And he'd upset them.

Anyway...

That's how I knew
there was a real war on.

Yeah, there's
a real war on, all right.

I preferred yours
a lot better.

So did I.

It's too bad
you had to find out.

Why'd you
have to find out?

Well, you did
a beautiful job in
the Olympics, anyway.

And you're
the greatest coach
who ever lived.

Do you realize you won
every gold medal in every
event in the Olympics?

No one's ever
done that in history.

We're taking you out.

It's after hours, Brinker.

Get them!

What is this?

[CHUCKLING]

Is this one
of your games? No, no, this isn't mine.

Brinker, did you
cook this up?
What is this?

BOYS: What are we gonna do?
Where are we going?Cut it out.

BRINKER: Cut it out, you two. GENE: You're full of it,
Brinker.

Take them!

FINNY: Hey,
you guys, cut it out.
A joke's a joke.

What is this?

All right,
bring them in!

You see how badly
Finny limps.

Sit down. Take a load
off your feet.

Now the other one.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Be seated.

Gentlemen.

The country demands
an inquiry into
this contretemps.

There's no time to waste.

The honor of the
school's at stake.

Blame must be laid
immediately upon
the responsible party.

Now Finny,

if you please,
in your own words.

What own words?

I know you
aren't very adept
with words.

Use some of Gene's.

What do you want me
to talk about? You?

I'm all right.

You're the casualty.

Are you crazy?

No, that's Leper,
our other casualty.

Tonight we're
investigating you.

What are you
talking about?

There's a war on. GENE: So?

That's one soldier
our side has already lost.

We've got to find
out what's happened.

Just for the record.
You agree, don't you, Gene?

I told Brinker this morning.
I warned him. I think
this is the worst.

And I said that
for Finny's own good.

For your own
good too, Gene.

Get this all out
into the open
once and for all.

BOY: We don't want
any mysteries or stray
rumors left in the air

once this
school term is over.

FINNY: What mysteries?
What rumors?

BRINKER: Finny, just try
and tell us in your own
words what happened.

Humor us if you want
to think of it that way.

BOY: We're not trying
to make you feel bad
or anything. Tell us.

There's nothin' to tell.

And that?

Oh. Well, I fell
out of a tree.

Why?

I took a wrong step.

Did you lose
your balance?

Yeah, I lost
my balance.

BOY: But you have
better balance than
anyone in the school.

[SCOFFS] Thanks.

BOY: Have you
ever thought...

That you
didn't fall out
of the tree?

It's funny,
you know?

I kinda had the
impression that the
tree shook me out.

BOY: Someone else
was in the tree,
isn't that so?

No!

I don't think so.

BOY: Somebody told me
Gene was there.

Finny was there,
he knows better
than anyone.

BOY: You were there,
too, weren't you, Gene?

Yeah, I was there.

BOY: Were you
near the tree?

You were down
at the bottom,
weren't you?

The bottom, yeah.

Did you
ever see the
tree shaking?

I always meant
to ask you, just
for the hell of it.

I don't remember.

Forget it.
Nutty question.

BOY: I thought you
were in the tree.

Well, of course,
I was in the tree.

How the hell
d'you think
I broke my leg?

Oh, you mean Gene.
Was he in the tree?

Well, I...

BOY: I meant Gene.

I was at the bottom
or climbing rungs.

How do you expect him
to remember anyway?

In all the confusion
and everything.

A kid I used
to play with

was hit by
a car once when
I was 11 years old.

When I was
11 years old.

I remember
every single
thing about it,

exactly where
I was standing,

the color of the sky,

the sound the
car brakes made!

I will never forget
anything about it.

GENE: You and I
are two different people.

No one's
accusing you
of anything.

GENE: Well, of course
no one's accusing me.

Don't argue
so much.

BOY: Look, we're
not accusing you.

FINNY: I think
I remember now.

I remember seeing
you standing
on the bank and...

What did I say?
Do you remember?

Yes, I said,
"Let's make
a double jump,"

because I thought
if we went together

it would be
something that's
never been done before.

No. Uh...

I was on
the ground when
I said that to you.

I said that to you
on the ground

and then the
two of us began
climbing the tree.

BOY: The two of you
began climbing
the tree together?

Was that it?

And he just
said he was
on the ground.

Or on the rungs!
I said, I might've
been on the rungs.

BRINKER: Leper was
there, wasn't he?

BOY: Yes.
Leper was there.

Leper always
was the perfect
person for details.

It's too bad he's
not here, he could
clear up this whole mess.

There is no mess.

Leper's here.

[BOYS MURMURING]

I saw him this
morning outside
the Chapel.

He ran into
Ludsbury's study.

But don't go
get him, please.

Go get him!

He might still
be with Ludsbury.

[DOOR CLOSING]

BRINKER: Short recess
in deference to
our key witness.

[TAPPING RHYTHMICALLY]

[SNAPPING FINGERS]

[CLAPPING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

BRINKER: Be quiet!

Anybody that's
not serious can
leave right now.

[VOCALIZING]

♪ Hitler, he only
has one ball

♪ Goering has two
But very small

♪ Himmler has
something similar

♪ And Doctor Goebbels
has no balls at all!

♪ Hitler, he only
has one ball

♪ Goering has two
But very small

♪ Himmler has
something similar

♪ But Doctor Goebbels
has no balls at all!

Once more!

♪ Hitler, he only
has one ball

♪ Goering has two
But very small

♪ Himmler has
something similar

♪ But Doctor Goebbels
has no balls at all!

♪ Hitler, he only
has one ball

♪ Goering has two
But very small

♪ Himmler has
something similar

♪ But Doctor Goebbels
has no balls at all!

♪ Hitler, he only
has one ball

♪ Goering has two
But very small

LEPER: What can
I do for you?

♪ Himmler has
something similar

What can I
do for you?

♪ But Doctor Goebbels
has no balls... ♪

[GAVEL BANGING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

BRINKER: You were
standing there next
to the river bank,

watching Finny
climb the tree.

Yeah.

I was looking up.

It was almost sunset.

I remember
the way the sun was
shining in my eyes.

GENE: So, you
couldn't really see.

BRINKER: What did you see?
Could you see anything?

Sure.

I just shaded
my eyes a little,

like this.

Then, I could
see both of them
clearly enough.

'Cause the sun
was blazing all
around them.

The sun's rays
were shooting past them,

millions of rays
shooting past them like,

golden machine
gun fire.

That's the way
it was, if you
really wanna know.

The two of them
looked as black as...

As black as death
standing up there

with that fire
burning all around them.

BRINKER: Up there where?

Where were the two
of them standing?

On the limb.

Was one of them
ahead of the other?

Of course.

Who was ahead?

I couldn't see that.
Just two shapes.

And with that
fire burning all
around them,

they looked as black as... You said that already!

You couldn't tell
who was ahead?

No, naturally I couldn't.

Where were
the two of them
standing exactly?

One of them
was next to the
trunk of the tree.

I'll never forget that
because the black
trunk anchored him,

if you see what I mean,
on something solid.

In all the bright
fire they were
standing up there.

The other one
was a little further
out on the limb.

Then what happened?

Then they both moved.

How?

Like an engine.

Well, I can't think
of the name of the
engine, but anyway,

in this engine
first one piston sinks,

then the other
one sinks.

The one holding
onto the trunk of
the tree sank,

for a second,
up and down

like a piston,

then the other
one sank and fell.

[BOYS MURMURING]

BOY: Then the one who
moved first, shook the
other one's balance.

LEPER: I suppose so.

He was the
one who fell.

In other words,
Finny moved
first or second?

I don't intend
to implicate myself.

I'm not gonna
tell you everything

and then have it
used against me later.

You always did
take me for a fool,
didn't you?

Well, I'm no
fool anymore.

BRINKER: Leper,
this is very important!

So am I!
You be the fool.

You be the fool
now, bastard!

BRINKER: Wait a minute!

We haven't heard
everything yet.

We haven't
found out all the facts.

You get all
the facts, Brinker.

You get every
frigging fact
in the world!

[FOOTSTEPS RUNNING]

[LOUD CLATTERING]

Finny!

Finny?

Finny,
it's me, Gene.

Finny.

Finny,
it's me, Gene.

Finny,
I've come to see you.

You!

What, d'you want
to break something
else in me?

Is that why you came?

Hello, Gene.

Hello, sir.

How's Finny? He's fine, Gene, fine.

The break was
a clean, simple one.

Say, you could
bring over some
of his clothes

and toilet articles.

You look a
little peaked.

You're taking
this thing
much too hard.

[DOOR OPENING]

Put the suitcase
on the table.

Okay.

Finny,
I tried to tell
you before.

I tried to
tell you the
first time.

I know.

I remember.

[SIGHS]

I wish to God
there wasn't a war.

I don't know
if I can take this
with a war on.

If you can take?

What the hell good
are you in a war
with a busted leg?

I've been writing the
Army and the Navy and
the Marines all winter.

Did you know that?

No. Of course,
you didn't know that.

Well, they all
gave me the same answer,

once they saw
my medical report.

"No thanks.
We can't use you."

[GENE SIGHS]

I wrote the
Merchant Marine,

and the Coast Guard,

General De Gaulle
personally.

I even wrote
Chiang Kai-shek,

and I was about
to write somebody
in Russia.

You wouldn't
like it in Russia.

I'll hate it
everywhere if I'm
not in this war.

Why do you think
I kept saying
there was no war?

I was gonna keep
saying it until the
second I got a letter

from China or Canada
or someplace.

Saying "Yes.
You can enlist with us."

Then there
would've been a war.

You wouldn't
be any good
in the war.

Even if nothing
happened to your leg.

They'd get you
some place at the front.

There'd be a lull
in the fighting.

[SNIFFS]

Next thing
you know, you'd
be over with

the Japanese
and the Germans,

asking if they'd
want to field
a baseball team

against our side.

You'd be sitting in one
of their front posts
teaching 'em English.

You'd get things
so screwed up,

no one would
know who to fight
with anymore.

[LAUGHING]

You'd make
a terrible mess
out of the war.

It was some sort of
a blind impulse you
had in that tree there.

You didn't know
what you were doing.

That was it,
wasn't it?

Yeah, that was it.

But how can
you believe that?

I can't even make
myself pretend that
you could believe that.

Then that was it.

Something just
seized you.

It wasn't anything
you felt against me.

It wasn't some
kind of hatred
you felt all along.

It wasn't
anything personal.

No.

But I don't know
how to show you.

How can I
show you, Finny?
Tell me how.

It was just some
ignorance inside me.

Something crazy
inside me,
something blind.

That's all.

[SIGHS]

I believe you.

It's okay,
because I understand.

I believe you.

You've already
shown me.

Thanks, Finny.

See all those trucks?

They're for a
parachute school
right here at Devon.

What do you
think of that, Gene?

I've got to go
to the Infirmary,

they're operating
on Finny's leg.

Gene, about last night... I've got to go.

Well, how is he?

[SIGHS]

This is one
of those things

that I think boys of
your generation are
going to see a lot of.

Your friend is dead.

It was such
a clean, simple break,

anyone could
have set it.

Of course I didn't
send him to Boston,
why should I?

In the middle of it,
his heart simply
stopped without warning.

As I was
moving the bone,

a bit of marrow
must have escaped
into the bloodstream

and gone directly
into his heart
and killed him.

It's the only
possible explanation,
the only one.

There are risks.

There are always risks.

An operating room
is just a place

where risks are more
formal than others.

An operating
room and a war.

Why did it have
to happen to you
boys here?

Here at school.

So soon.

MR. PATCHWITHERS:
The feeling of the
importance of commencement,

is very strong
in me today.

There's the loveliness
of the season,

the memories which
come back to us,

the beauty of Devon,
at this time of year.

The pride of parents,

the ambitions
of the graduates.

I speak for the faculty
as well as myself,

in congratulating you,
on the receipt of
your diplomas.

They stand for hard
work, well done.

You have been here
in difficult days,

and you've met
these days like men.

Here, at Devon,

you've been trained
both in body, and in mind.

We've taught you
to play hard, and to win.

We've challenged
your minds in the classroom,

and your bodies,
in keen competition,

on the playing fields.

This war has lowered
the age of responsibility,

by at least two years,

and you have
responded magnificently.

In a few months
from now,

you will meet a more
severe challenge.

Some of your teachers
and classmates

are already fighting
in distant lands.

Some are already casualties.

Now, you too will
be asked to fight

with guns and bombs,

against an enemy
whom you have never met.

None of you has
ever been asked
to kill before.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[WHISTLING]

GENE: I didn't cry then
or ever about Finny.

I didn't even cry when

he was being
lowered into the

burial ground
outside of Boston.

I couldn't escape
the feeling that it
was my own funeral.

And you don't cry
in that case.