Tea and Sympathy (1956) - full transcript

Bo Sturges!

Hank, you old son of a gun!

How are you, buddy?

Bo, this is my wife Alice.
Alice, this is Bo Sturges.

Bo was a pretty big man
in our class

Getting bigger every day.

Hi, Alice. Nice to see you.

You know, our class
married darn well.

A bunch of real pretty women.

Where's your wife, Bo?

How are you?



This is my boy, Ferdie.

Hello, Ferdie.

He's a sophomore here.

Chip off the old block.

You do look like your father.

That's supposed
to be a compliment.

He can't believe that
I was ever an adonis.

I knew your father
at the senior dance.

He had all
the girls gaga.

…what a wonderful time
he's had each year.

I had to come
and see for myself.

I came to the first three
reunions, and then I told Remsen,

I just hit the big ones:
10, 15, and so on.

I think they're
for the birds.



Yeah, I think
so, too.

You and 50 other members of our class
with new babies.

Sour old bachelor, isn't he?

Nobody has to look at them.

Not much, they don't.

Why don't you get married
and get some pictures of your own?

Tonight at dinner,
I'm gonna bring down

pictures of my new factory
and make you all look at them.

Say, isn't that…
you know, what's his name?

Yeah. Sure.

I never thought I'd see him
at a class reunion.

I suppose he's got a right.

Sure, but would you?

I don't think they're in.

I used to live here 10 years ago.
Do you think they'd mind if I went in?

No, of course not.

§ The joys of love §

§ are but a moment long §

§ The grief of love
endures §

§ forevermore §

Here. Let me.

Thanks. I could have managed it.

Well.

Over there in the sun, I think.

Too much sun burns seedlings.

Obviously I'm a beginner.

I never had a garden
before I came here last fall.

You've got
a green thumb, then.

All those bulbs you
planted last October…

They're all right,
but I need some more blue
in the garden.

Forget-me-nots.

I'll get you some seeds.
I'll plant them.

You sound like
quite an authority.

I used to have a garden
when I was a kid.

Of course, my dad wasn't
so keen on the idea,

but he wasn't
around much, anyways.

It was
your mother's idea?

No. She didn't
live with us.

I haven't seen her
since I was about 5.

She and my father
are divorced.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, you needn't be.
They aren't.

I was supposed
to hold them together.

That's how I happened
to come into the world.

I didn't work.
That's a terrible thing, you know,

to make a flop
of the first job you get in life.

-Don't you ever see her?
-Not since I was 5.

I was with her till 5,
and then my father took me away.

All I remember about my mother

is she was always telling me
to go outside and bounce a ball.

Where do you want these?

In the study, I think.

My husband's down at the beach
with the varsity club.

Aren't you supposed
to be with them?

Tennis team went,
didn't they?

Yes.

I've got some water on
for some tea.

That'd be great.

I've been altering
your costume for the play.

I thought we might find
a moment for a fitting.

Sure.

Do you want the door
open or shut?

It doesn't make
any difference.

Well, perhaps you'd better
leave it ajar

just in case some of the other boys
come back early and want to drop in.

Oh. Sure.

I heard you singing.

I'm sorry if it bothered you.

No. It was very nice.

What's the name
of the song?

The joys of love.

"The joys of love
are but a moment long"

"The grief of love
endures forevermore"

Oh, and is that true?

You sang as though you knew
all about the grief of love.

And you don't think I do?

Well…

Well, you're right.

Ha! Only the joys, hmm?

Neither, really.

Oh, then you're a fake.

Aren't you bringing someone
up to the dance after the play Saturday?

Yes.

Well, there.

You.

Me?

You're going to be a hostess,
aren't you?

Yes, of course.

As a member of the committee,
I'm taking you.

All the committee
drew lots.

Oh, and you lost.

I won.

Oh, well, my husband
could have taken me.

Well, he's not
gonna be in town.

The mountain-climbing club

has its final outing
that weekend.

Oh, yes, that's right.
I'd forgotten that.

I'm supposed to find out tactfully
and without your knowing it

what color dress
you'll be wearing to the dance.

Oh, well. Why?

The committee
will send you a corsage.

Oh, yes. How nice.

Well, don't have
much to choose from.

Oh, I guess
my yellow.

The boy who's in charge
of getting the flowers

thinks a corsage should be
something like a funeral decoration,

so I'm taking personal charge
of getting yours.

Well, thank you.

You must have gotten lots of flowers
when you were acting in the theater.

Now and then.
Nothing spectacular.

Anyway, I was never
any great shakes at it.

Oh, I can't believe that.

Oh, then you take my word for it.

Come on, stand up.

Let's see if this thing fits,
shall we?

I've got a couple of minutes
before I have to leave.

My dad's going to hit the roof
when he hears I'm playing a girl.

I think you're a good sport
not to mind.

He's always after me
to join up clubs and things

and the dramatic club
would only take me

if I'd play this part.

Well, it's a good part:

Lady Teazle in
The School for Scandal.

He's coming up here Saturday
for the game and alumni day.

If he comes over here
and you see him,

please don't tell him
about this.

No. I won't.

Now. Yes, well…

We're going to have to
let this out around here.

Now, what size
do you want to be?

Well, I don't know.
Whatever you think.

I should have thought you'd
have asked some girl up to see you act

and then taken her
to the dance afterwards.

There's no one
I can ask.

What do you mean?

I don't know any girls, really.

Certainly, back home…

In the last 10 years,
I haven't been home.

I mean really home.

Summers,
my father packs me off to camps,

and the rest of the time,
I've been at boarding schools.

So I mean it when I say
I don't know any girls.

Your roommate Al
knows lots of girls.

Why don't you ask him
to fix you up with a blind date?

I don't know.

I can't even dance.

I'm telling you this so you won't expect
anything of me Saturday night.

Well…

we'll just sit out
and talk, huh?

Okay.

Or I could teach you how to dance.
It's quite simple.

You?

Yes. Why not?

Look. I'll show you
how simple it is.

You put your left hand out like this
and your right…

Oh, now, you're kidding me.

A boy your age
and you don't know how to dance?

I'm not kidding you.

All right. Come on, then.
I had to teach my husband.

Come on.
Put your arms around me.

We'd better put it off.

We look kind of silly,
both of us in skirts.

All right, then,
you take it off.

I've got to get up
to the golf course, anyway.

Take the skirt
up to your room

and see if you can move around in it,
you know, get used to it.

And then get yourself out
into this lovely day.

Thanks for the tea.

Oh, you're welcome.

Laura!

Lilly, I'm sorry I'm late.

You're not.

I've got to go in the clubhouse
and call the house.

I'll be right with you.

There's no hurry. It doesn't
seem to be very crowded.

We'll be through
by 4 easily.

Mary suggested
we all go down for a swim after.

All right. Fine.

See you
on the first tee.

Oh, hello.

Hello.

It's a lovely day.
I'm glad you kicked me out.

I didn't expect you
to be up here.

I meant the beach
or the tennis court.

I like it up here.

I've got a spot down the road
there, near the sixth fairway.

I go there sometimes.

If you slice your drives real bad,
that's about where it is.

I'm inclined to hook.
What are you reading?

Candida.

-Have a nice game.
-Thanks.

You want someone
to carry your clubs?

No. You go on
reading your book.

You know, these boys come here
ignorant as all get-out about women,

and they spend the next four years
exchanging misinformation.

Oh, Lilly. Honestly.

This is the age
Romeo should be played.

So intense.

These kids would die for love
or almost anything else.

My husband says
all of their English themes

end in death.

Speaking of intense
young men.

-Hello.
-Hello.

-Hello, Mrs. Williams.
-Hello, Tom.

-Did you have a good game?
-No. She won.

You finally joined up
with the varsity club picnic.

No. They're over
by the boathouse.

I was just around the bend
here. It's a real nice spot.

Well, you know.

You swim there
all the time.

It was a little bit windy.
We thought it would be more sheltered here.

That'd be stronger

if you wound the thread around
before you finish it.

What?

I'm sorry.
I had a maid, taught me.

She practically
brought me up.

I don't believe it.

Well, will you
look at that?

I used to have to sew on all
my buttons when I was a kid.

-Can you cook?
-Sure.

You'll make some girl a good wife.

I think Bill learned how to sew
on buttons when he was in the army.

First time I tried cooking,
it was the maid's night out.

and I was gonna cook scrambled
eggs and bacon for my dad and me.

I'd always seen her put a piece
of butter in the frying pan,

so that night we had bacon
fried in butter.

No. Go ahead and do another
one while I finish this.

Hey, come on,
throw the ball!

Come on, come on.

Why don't we go back up
and get a game together?

Shut up.

Hi!

Come and join
the sewing club.

Tom, why don't you go
and join them?

No. Go on. Go ahead.

Here we go, Dave.

Let's have that ball
right here.

Yo! Back here.

Steve, toss it here.
Come on.

Come on, let's go!

Throw it back to me.

Let's go!

I didn't hurt you, did I?

Just my pride.

I'll give you a few pointers
when you come to the lodge this summer.

You want to watch
that sudden shift of weight.

That's what does it.

Al, come here.
Show him that one-two thing.

Hey, Mr. Reynolds!
Mr. Reynolds!

Mr. Reynolds, look,
without thinking,

I'll say a word
and then three words,

and you pick the word of the
three that fits the first one.

What grade are you
getting in English?

Okay, first: "Beautiful".
Then flowers, girls, music.

-Well…
-No thinking.

-Girls.
-Naturally.

Next: "fun".
Reading, hunting, gardening.

Hunting.
What is this, anyway?

It's a quiz.
"Are you masculine?"

-How am I doing?
-So far, so good.

What do you mean,
"are you masculine?"

You answer
all these questions, see.

And then you add up your score,
those of you who can add,

and you know
how much of a man you are,

how you rate with women
and things like that.

One at a time!

The witness before
the special subcommittee

on masculinity
is Mr. Reynolds.

I think that I shall
decline to answer

on the grounds that it may tend
to degrade or incriminate.

However, if anybody
wants to have

a more practical test
of manly strength, I'm on.

Where's Ralph?

-Hey, Ralph!
-Yes, sir.

Where have you been?
You're my only competition here.

Well, they found Tom Lee.

-Where?
-Up the beach.

Why isn't he down here with the rest of us
like he's supposed to be?

Because he's busy
with his sewing.

It's the truth.

We found him sitting up the beach
with three faculty wives.

The guy was
actually sewing.

Sewing?

Knock it off, Steve.

Oh, look. Just because
you're his roommate.

Knock it off!

I'm telling you, Al,
it's the truth.

He's sitting up there with
Mrs. Sears, Mrs. Williams

and Mrs. Reynolds.

-Let's go get him!
-Yeah! Yeah!

Wait a minute, fellas.

This school doesn't make anybody do
anything he doesn't want to.

But if he prefers the company
of women, that's his business.

Let's try him out
on this test.

That'd be superfluous,
unnecessary, and a waste of time.

He's still gonna beat you
in the tennis finals on Saturday.

I'm not denying the possibility
of that catastrophe.

But how is he gonna beat me?
Chop, chop, chop?

Sister Boy can put
more twist on that ball.

Sister Boy!
That's good!

Shut up.

Why doesn't he hit
the ball like a man?

Because he can beat you
better by cutting and chopping.

Okay, fellows, come on.
Let's break it up.

What's the matter?
Are women verboten?

More or less.

What? Oh.

I'm sorry.

Do I embarrass you
by coming by?

Well, it's just…

I was down on the beach, swimming,

and I thought maybe I'd drop by
and see if you were ready to go home.

Yeah. I didn't know you were
going swimming this afternoon.

Well, I wasn't.

What's the matter?

I hear you had quite
a foursome down there.

No. Just Lilly and Mary.

And Tom.

Yes. He joined us
for a few minutes.

Of quiet sewing.

Yes, but then
he joined the other boys.

No. They came back
without him.

Oh. I suppose the boys
made a big thing out of the sewing.

-Can't say I blame them.
-Oh, now, Bill.

He got himself a little nickname:
"Sister Boy".

I hope you
set them straight.

What was there
to set them straight about?

But Bill, supposing it had been Al
or any of the other down there with us?

-They wouldn't have been.
-Bill!

I'm sorry that you
were involved.

What do you mean,
involved?

What are those?

Oh, well, they're
nothing, dear.

I was just playing
with the idea

that we might go
up to Canada alone…

Canada?

You know, get away,
just the two of us.

Gee, that'd be great, but I've
already invited some of the boys

up to the lodge
with us this summer.

-I can't disappoint them.
-No, of course not, dear.

I wish you'd said
something earlier.

-It's my fault. I should have said…
-No, it's nobody's fault.

Hey, Ralph!
Don't break his arm yet!

We need him on the team
next year.

I'll see you at home.

Come on, it's time!
Get the glasses!

What's the matter with you?

Mrs. Morrison!
Get the glasses!

Come on!

Let's hurry it up!

Hurry! Hurry!
Hurry!

Let's go!

I keep telling you guys,

I don't want a bunch of peeping toms
mussing up my room all the time.

Al, do we have to have these peeping toms
hanging out of my window every afternoon?

Ralph, come on. She's almost…

Want her to hear you?

Why don't you guys stick to
your arts models magazines?

Just because you're not
interested, Sister Boy,

don't spoil it
for the rest of us.

Whoa!

What is it?
What is it?

Hey, get off the dress,
will you?

Dress?

Don't tear
Sister Boy's dress.

You can sew that thing up,

or you can make yourself another one
out of all your chintz you got here.

Come on,
get out of here!

I thought you were coming to
the varsity outing, Sister Boy.

What happened?

All right, you guys.
That's enough. Lay off. Come on.

I just don't like this drip
calling me a peeping tom

and telling me what
I can and can't look at.

Hey, Sister Boy,
is this your old man?

Okay, okay.

You all right?

Yeah.

Point to Tom Lee.
He leads 40-15.

Point to Ollie Delwyn.
Score 40-30.

Game, Tom Lee.

He leads 4 games to 1.

Herb!

I thought it was you.

Hello, Alex.
How are you?

I was on my way
to the baseball game.

-Come on along.
-Yeah, well, no, Alex.

I've caught
a couple of points of this.

It's no fun watching
this pat-ballet play.

Come on now.

Yeah, well…

Sure, Alex.

Hey, bob!

You heard what they're calling
the tennis match?

What?

The mixed singles final.

I don't get it.

Sister Boy Lee!

I'll bet you he doesn't show
up at the pajama fight tonight.

He'll be there.

We're gonna make sure
he gets a personal escort.

Hey, Billy!

Well, son.

Hello there.

Well, I hear you won.

Yeah.

You seemed to have
the situation well in hand.

I hope you didn't mind
my leaving you like that,

but I kind of sensed that
I was making you nervous.

Oh, no. You…

How have you been?

Oh, fine. Fine.

The fellows trying to get your goat
out there this afternoon?

Yeah. I guess so.

Why? They seem like the kind of
fellows who would be your friends.

Regular guys.

I don't know.

I noticed the characters
who did applaud for you.

Remember, I told you to be careful
how you made your friends.

You are known
by the company you keep.

Yeah, dad.

I wanna be
your friend, Tom.

I know there's something
between fathers and sons

that makes it hard
for them to be friends,

but I'd like to try.

Sure, dad.

Are you ready?

Yeah. I wanna
congratulate the ball team.

Hey, they beat
Hanover, huh?

Bonfire tonight.
Big pajama fight.

Sorry I can't stay for it.

Yeah, that's too bad.

You know, the year
I was a new boy,

the new fellows outclassed
the older fellows,

and not very many of us
lost our pajamas…

You know, you ought to get a crew cut
like the other fellows, Tom.

Why?

You just should,
that's all.

Let's go out
this way.

The team's down here.

Oh, okay

We'll try and get you to a barbershop
before it closes, hmm?

I used to eat
two of these a day.

We all ate them.
"Hickey in heaven" we called them.

It looks good.

Two black
and whites, huh?

Okay.

Here we go.

Ellie, don't they ever clean
those uniforms of yours?

Okay, what's the matter?

You got a big spot
right here.

Do I? That's real funny.

You got some chocolate up here.

That's private property.

Any of these guys
your friends?

No.

This place sure is different
than when I was here.

I guess it is.

Thanks a lot.

Anytime, Ellie. Anytime.

You know,
you're real sweet.

You're gonna go far.

That's different, too.

Oh, that's Ellie.

I forget what her name
was in my day.

Ellie, baby, come on,
you adorable creature.

You're driving me mad.
I love you!

I love you! I love you!

Come on!

Go on.
You dance with her.

Oh, no, dad.

Go on, Tom.

Look, dad,
let's go, huh?

Hey! Hey, buster!
It's 50 cents.

Here. I've got it.
Thank you.

Hey, Lee! Lee!

We'll see you tonight.
7 o'clock sharp.

I'll tell him.

That fellow
spoke to you.

Oh, yeah.

He seemed like
a regular fellow.

Yeah, I guess he is.

Look. He's still open.

You go in there
and get rid of all that hair.

I'll go over and see
Billy Reynolds.

-Look, dad, I don't…
-Now.

See you back at the house.

Come in.

I'm in the garden.

Oh, come on out.

Well, excuse me,
but I'm…

Hello, Mr. Lee.

How did you know that?

Bill has many pictures of you
when you were together on the teams.

Oh, you mean
I haven't changed?

Well…

I'm Laura.
How are you?

Yes. He is very
lucky, isn't he?

Thank you.

I was just planting
some forget-me-nots.

Oh, please
don't let me…

No, I've finished.

You're to be congratulated.

Oh? On what?

Tom's victory this afternoon.

Oh, yes.
Were you there?

Yes. For a while.

I left, too.

Mr. Lee, this is spring.

The usual time for
college and school riots

and general horseplay,
ganging up, excessive spirit.

You must remember.

I just don't remember
anything quite like this.

Well, Mr. Lee, I'm quite sure…

Laura!

Herb!

Bill, baby!
How are you?

Boy! Oh!

They told me
you were around.

You've met Laura.

And I like her
very much.

Everybody
likes Laura.

You look wonderful.

I try to keep
in shape.

Oh!

Oh! Ha ha ha!

If you excuse me,
I'll go and fix you a drink.

I can't stay very long.

I have to catch
the 6:54 back.

I won't be long.

That's a fine girl, Bill.

Herb, you saw Tom?

Yes. I left him at the barbershop
to get his hair cut.

What's this
all about, Bill?

I went to the tennis match this afternoon,
and I was humiliated.

Come back to a 25th reunion
just to be humiliated.

Yes, I heard
about it.

And in the locker room:

"sister boy"
they called him.

What is it, Bill?

Well, Herb,
he's a strange kid.

He keeps to himself.

He's different
from the rest of them,

and naturally,
they just resent it.

This whole thing
came to a head

because
last Wednesday

he was supposed to go
swimming with the varsity club.

Instead, he went down to the beach
with some faculty wives.

Some of the boys
came upon him,

and there he was,
sitting with them,

sewing.

Yes, well, I guess
I'm not surprised, Bill.

You see, when he was a kid,
we had a maid.

She taught him
to do things like that.

I fired her
when I found out.

Why would faculty wives

you'd think they'd
have better sense.

Yes, Herb, you would.

Why isn't he a regular fellow, Bill?

He's had every chance to be
since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.

Boys camps,
boarding schools…

I've always seen to it
that he was associated with regular guys.

Why doesn't some of it rub off?

Mr. Lee, perhaps
I'm not the one to say this,

but I think he is a regular fellow,
whatever that is.

You're being very generous
to say that, Laura,

but it just doesn't jive
with the facts.

Well, he…

he is an off-horse, Herb.

He's going to have to learn
to run with the other horses.

I want to be proud of him.

That's why I had him
in the first place.

But he makes it
so difficult for me!

My associates ask me
what he wants to be,

and I have to tell them that
he hasn't made up his mind

because I just won't tell them
that he wants to be a…

a folk singer.

He certainly isn't a chip off
the old block, Herb.

I guess I'll give him a real going-over
at that pajama bonfire tonight.

I'm very grateful I will
not be there to see it.

However, it may be
a good lesson for him.

Mightn't it be
more than a lesson?

Nobody ever gets hurt
at these things.

It's sort of
a good-natured roughhouse.

I'll bring you something
to go with your drink.

-Please, don't bother.
-It's no bother.

I have to go up
and see Tom in a moment.

You'll be there,
won't you, Bill?

Sure.

I guess I better
get up and see Tom.

Okay, Herb.

I hate having serious
talks with him.

Only other time I had
a heart-to-heart talk with him,

he got sick to his stomach.

That's a terrible effect…

Don't bother to get anything.

He took his drink up
to Tom's room.

All right, dear.

And I wish that you wouldn't try
to tell him about his own son.

-After all, if he doesn't know the boy,
who does? -I'm sorry.

I'm going to the dean's
for supper.

There's something
I want to talk to him about.

I got things in for supper
here, but they'll keep.

I'm sorry, but the dean couldn't
make it any other time, okay?

Yeah, sure.

But you'll be back for
the bonfire pajama fight.

I wouldn't miss it.

Exactly
what is it, Bill?

The first victory that we
have over Hanover each year,

all the new boys
put on their pajamas

and the older boys
try to tear them off.

Will they give Tom a going-over,
as Mr. Lee said?

Yes.

Look, Laura,
he asked for it.

Oh, Bill.

Maybe it will make
a man of him.

I've never seen you like
this before about anything.

This is my house. I lived here as
a student, and my father before me.

The name of this house
means something to me.

-But there is nothing…
-It may mean nothing to you.

You don't know how
it can get blown up.

You don't know what one off-horse
can do to a house.

Has it ever occurred to you

that it might get blown up
into something big for Tom, too?

That it might affect him
for the rest of his life

and make him unsure
and doubting…

Tom's father put him in this house
hoping I could do something for him.

-So you feel you've failed.
-Yes, and with your help.

Oh, the beach thing.

That and everything else.

This boy would rather
sit around here with you

and listen to music and read
poetry and strum his guitar

than go out with the fellows.

But, Bill,
he's never had a home.

This is the closest thing
he's ever had to a home.

And he sees
in this house and in me…

What?

Oh. Look, Laura,

stay out
of these things.

I told you when I brought
you here a year ago

that this was going to be
an awfully tough place

for a woman
with a heart like yours.

I told you that you'd run
into boys, big and little.

They'd all have problems,
problems which for the moment

would seem gigantic
and heartbreaking.

You promised me then

that you wouldn't get
all taken up with them.

-Remember that?
-Yes, I remember.

It's just
that this age…

When I was kid here in this school,
I had my problems, too.

I used to sit
in my room

and listen to phonograph
records hour after hour.

I had a place where I used to go
and cry my eyes out.

Oh, Bill.

But I got over it .
I learned how to take it!

When the headmaster's wife
gave you that silver teapot,

she told you just what she tells
all of the other master's wives:

that you have got to be
an interested bystander.

Yes, I know.

Just as she says, Laura,
all you are supposed to do

is once in a while
give the boys a little…

tea and sympathy.

-You remember that?
-Yes, I remember.

It's just that
this age…

17 or 18…

I know.

And John was
just this age.

Look, Laura.

I know you don't like
me to talk about him,

but he was just his age
-18 or so- when I married him.

We both were, and I know
how this age can suffer.

It's a heartbreaking time.

They're no longer a boy
and not yet a man,

wondering what's going to
be expected of them as men,

how they'll measure up.

Bill?

Bill?

Well, I guess I better get changed
if I'm going to get to the dean's on time.

You didn't get
your hair cut.

No. I waited, but he closed up
before he could take me.

Well, first thing
Monday morning then, huh?

Sure.

This room certainly looks
different from when I lived here.

I had a bathing beauty

or something like that
right over there.

Curtains? You spend your
allowance on this kind of thing?

Well, I try to make it look

more like a… home.
Yeah.

My clothes used to be
all over the place.

I'm afraid that neatness
was a virtue that I never…

What's this?

It's a costume
Mrs. Reynolds was fixing for me.

I'm in the play before the dance
on Saturday night.

Playing what?

Lady Teazle in
The School for Scandal.

Tom,

I want to talk to you.

What's the matter?

You're not going
to play that part.

Why not?

I should think you'd have
sense enough to know why not.

We'll be down to get
you in a taxi, sister

you better be ready
by a quarter to 8.

Isn't it obvious
why not?

A boy of mine.

Wait a minute, dad.

You're not
going to do it.

I don't like my son
being called "Sister Boy".

You're going to
have to show them.

And you?

No, not me.

And…

and Mrs. Reynolds?

Yes, I guess so.

Come on, now.

You're going down
to Bill's

and phone whoever is
putting on this play

and tell them that you're
not going to do that part.

Dad,
I'll do it later.

Now.

Dad, let me call about
the play from here.

Why not use Bill's phone?
He won't mind.

-Please, dad.
-Come on.

And listen:

at that bonfire tonight,
you put up a fight.

If I hear that you didn't
lick the tar out of them…

well, you just fight.

You understand?

Come on.

-Is Bill ready?
-Yes. He'll be right down.

I'd like Tom to use
your phone, if he may,

to call whoever's
putting on the play.

He's giving up the part.

Giving up the part?

Yes. I want him to.
He's doing it for me.

-But, Mr. Lee.
-Bill will understand.

Oh, Bill?

Up here, Herb.

What's the number of that
man who's putting on the play?

Tom wants to call him.

Fred Mayberry. 326.

You about ready?

Yeah. You don't mind if
Tom uses your phone, do you?

Of course not.

When are you going
on your mountain-climbing weekend?

Next weekend's
the outing, Herb.

Maybe Tom can go
with you.

He's on the dance
committee, I think.

Of course, he's welcome if he wants to.
He always has been.

Tom?

Tom!

326.

Tom is going to give
up his part in the play.

Oh?

Laura, will you walk along
with us to the dining hall?

I don't think I feel
like any supper, thanks.

What?

Here. I have to get along
if I'm going to catch my train.

Why, Laura!

We'll be back right after supper.
We can go to the bonfire.

-You sure you won't walk along…
-yes, I'm quite sure.

It's busy.

Keep trying, then.

Now, then.

Before I go,
is there anything you want?

Oh.

Well, always remember,
you want anything,

just let me know.

Well, I'll see you
in a week or so, Laura.

This will all be
blown over by then.

Laura, I wish
that you'd…

No. No.

Laura.

Hello, Mr. Mayberry.
This is Tom Lee.

Yes, I know it's time to go to supper,

but I wanted you…

I wanted you to know

I'm not going to be able
to play the part in the play.

No.

Well…

I just can't.

Here, give it to me.

Hello, Fred.
This is Laura.

Yes, uh,
yes, well…

Tom's father…

well, he thinks
Tom is tired

and should concentrate
on his final exams.

You had someone covering
the part, didn't you?

Well, yes, of course,

it's a great
disappointment to Tom.

Look, Fred,
I'll see you tomorrow, hmm?

Yeah. All right.
Thanks. Good-bye.

Somebody's going to have to hold his
sewing basket for him during the fight.

Yeah. Don't want anything
to happen to that.

Don't forget, now. We're going to pick
your roomie up at a quarter to 8.

Tom?

Tom?

Tom?

I thought I'd call
little Joan Harrison

and ask her over
to tea tomorrow.

I want you to come, too,

and I want you to ask her
to go to the dance with you Saturday.

You… you were
to go with me.

Yes, I know I was.

Do you think so, too?

Like the others?
Like my father?

Tom!

Is that why you're
shoving me off on Joan?

Tom! I'm asking her over so
that we can lick this thing.

Tom!

Let's go, troops!

Hey, Cinderella,
it's time for the ball!

Come on, sis!

Sister's hiding!

Come on! Put on your
nightie, and let's go!

It's locked.

We'll huff,
and we'll puff,

and we'll blow
the door in.

Come on!

All right, let's go.

Let's go!
Come on!

Come on!

Hup, hup, 2, 3.

Hup, hup, 2, 3…

hup, hup, 2, 3.

Hup, hup, 2, 3…

hello, al.

Hello,
Mrs. Reynolds.

You're staying
out of it?

Ah, kid stuff.

Hup, hup, 2, 3.

Hup, hup, 2
All right, break. Let's go.

Al, you're not in it?

What's the use?

Well, sister boy…

I wouldn't want you
to get a cold.

Bill, I don't think
I'll stay.

Nobody ever gets hurt
in this thing.

Be a pity
to spoil the record.

Come on.
It's all about fun.

Let's form a circle!

You watch out for sister boy!
She's very delicate!

What's going on here?

You don't want
Sister Boy's pajamas.

You leave Sister Boy alone!

We're her bodyguards!

Whoever touches a hair
off her head

dies like a dog!

Sis, you stay where the nasty,
rough men won't hurt you.

See, no one's
going to get hurt.

Hey, don't mess up
sister boy's hair.

What, do you want
to make her cry?

Aw, Al!

I'm sorry you did that to Sister Boy, Al,
but seeing as you did…

Ralph!

Okay, fellows,
break it up!

Let's go!

Tom!

I'm sorry I called out over there.

I didn't think.

It's all right.

Do you have something
to put on those cuts?

Tom,

I didn't have a chance
to thank you for the seeds.

Remember. Tea on Monday
with Joan Harrison.

Yes, dad.

Well, I don't know, dad.
It just seemed so lousy

that no one was
tearing Tom's pajamas off.

I don't know
why I did it.

What do you mean,

what do the guys on the team
think about it?

How did you
find out about it, anyway?

Yeah.

Yeah. Sure,
I know Mike.

Yeah. Sure, he's a nice guy.
He plays first base.

Yeah.

Well, look, dad.

Now, that's not going
to be so easy.

You see, it's kind of late,
and even if I did want to do it…

Okay, dad,
I'll think about it.

I can't be more definite, dad.

I said I'd think about it!

I don't mean to be
disrespectful, sir,

only it's not easy.

Yeah. Look, I got to run, dad.

Yeah.

Yeah, okay.
Yeah, dad. Bye.

-Oh. Mrs. Reynolds.
-Hello, Al.

Is Mr. Reynolds in?

No, he isn't, but
can I do something?

I guess I better
drop down when he's in.

All right, but I don't really
expect him back till suppertime.

Well, in that case,
you might tell him

just so he'll know and
can make other plans.

I won't be rooming
in this house next year.

This is the last day for changing,
and I just wanted him to know about it.

Oh, I see.

I know he'll be very
sorry to hear that, Al.

I'm going across the
street to Harmon's house.

Both you and Tom going over?

No. Just me.

Does Tom
know about this?

Al, won't you come in
and sit down for a moment?

Please.

Would you
like a cigarette?

Oh, no.
I'm in training.

Oh!

Oh, yes, that's right.

You're not looking forward
to telling Tom, are you, Al?

I'm sorry to hear you're not rooming
with him next year.

Mrs. Reynolds,
my father's called me.

He wants me to room with
Mike Farrell next year.

He says Mike's
a regular guy.

He's always wanted me
to room with Mike.

It seems he and Mike's
father roomed together, and…

Al, I can't tell you
how much I admired

what you did at the bonfire
Saturday night.

It took great courage.

Not physical courage,
but moral courage.

Al, you've
lived with Tom.

You know him better than
anyone else knows him.

If you do this,
it's as good as finishing him

as far as this school is concerned
and maybe even farther.

It's my father
and the fellows and…

And what?

Mrs. Reynolds,
he does act kind of…

Well, why does he
have to walk so…

Oh, Al.

Why doesn't he talk about the same things
the other guys talk about?

Long-hair music!
All the time!

All right, he wants to be a singer,
so he talks about it.

He's never had a girl
up for any of the dances.

Which proves what?

All the time alone, wandering
off up to the golf course,

taking off on his bike,

listening to phonograph records
alone over in the choir room.

Al, there are certain
times in your life

when you would rather be alone
than with crowds of people,

and one of them is when
you're very deeply in love.

Tom?

Yes. Perhaps
he's in love.

Now, Mrs. Reynolds,
I'm his roommate.

He doesn't get
any letters from girls.

He never writes any.

He doesn't even talk about a
girl. I mean, he just can't be.

Oh, l better wait
and talk to Mr. Reynolds.

Al, what if I were to start
talking about you tomorrow?

What do you mean "talk"?

Oh, any kind.

Perhaps the same sort of talk
they're making about Tom.

You mean "Sister Boy"?

No one would believe it.

Why not?

Because you're big
and brawny and an athlete

and what they call
a top guy and a hard hitter?

Well, yeah.

Mrs. Reynolds, you wouldn't
do a thing like that.

No, Al, I probably wouldn't.

But I could,
and I almost would

to show you how easy it is
to smear a person.

And once I got them
believing it,

you'd be surprised how quickly
your manly virtues

would be changed into
suspicious characteristics.

Mrs. Reynolds,
I got a chance

to be captain
of the ball team next year.

Yes, I know,

and I have no right to ask
you to give up that chance.

Excuse me for saying so,
Mrs. Reynolds,

but it's easy for you to talk the
way you have. You're not involved!

You're just a bystander!

You're not going to get hurt.

Nothing's going to happen
to you one way or the other.

I'm sorry.

No. That's a fair criticism, Al.

I'm sorry I asked you.

Yes. As you say,
I'm not involved.

I'm sorry.

I think you're swell,
Mrs. Reynolds.

I think you're
the nicest housemaster's wife
I've ever run into.

I mean, I…

-I'm sorry.
-I'm sorry, too, Al.

Oh, hi.

Hi. Oh, I don't wanna bother.

No, that's okay. I wasn't
really listening, anyway.

That's a nice tie
you got there.

It's yours.
You want it?

Oh, no, no. I can only
wear one tie at a time.

You come up here
to listen to records?

No, I…

It's been rough,
hasn't it?

Yeah.

My brother says down at college
they have riots in the spring.

No reason at all,
just riots.

Up here they don't have riots.
They just pick out some guy…

I went to a meeting
of the dance committee.

I'm no longer
on the dance committee.

They said that since I backed out
of playing the part in the play,

I didn't show the proper spirit.

That's what they said.

Why don't you do
something about it?

Well, what can I do?

Well, gee,
you could… you…

I don't know.

I try to pass it off,

but you can't
pass it off.

The terrible thing is that
I find myself self-conscious

about things I've
been doing for years.

Look, Tom, do you mind
if I try to help you?

Gee, no. How?

I know this is going
to burn your tail,

and I know it sounds stupid,
but it isn't stupid.

It's the way people
look at things.

Now, you could do
a lot for yourself.

Just the way
you look and talk.

You mean get my hair cut?

For one thing.

Why should a guy with a crew cut
look more manly than…

I don't know the reasons
for these things.

I tried a crew cut
a couple of times!

I haven't got that kind of
hair or that kind of head!

I'm sorry, Al.
I didn't mean to yell at you.

Thanks for trying to help.

Look, Tom,
the way you walk…

Oh!

I'm just trying
to help you!

Nobody gave a damn about
how I walk till last Wednesday!

Okay, okay! Forget it!

Al.

Yeah?

I'm sorry.
Tell me how I walk.

Well…

Okay.

Go ahead. Walk.

Now I'm not going to
be able to walk anymore!

Go on, go on.

Okay, I'm walking.
Now, tell me.

Well?

Well, you walk
sort of…

I don't get it.

Well, sort of…

Well, show me.

Oh, I can't do it.

Well, then you walk.
Let me watch you.

I never noticed
how you walk.

Okay.

Do it again.

If you tell any of
the guys about this…

Do you think I would?

That's a good walk.
I'll try to copy it.

Do you really think it
will make any difference?

I don't know.

Not now, it won't.

Thanks, anyway.

Look, Tom,

you've been in on a lot
of bull sessions.

You've heard
the guys talking

about stopping over in
Boston on the way home,

getting girls, you know?

Sure. What about it?

You're not going
to the dance Saturday night.

Not now.

You know
Ellie Martin,

the gal that waits on
tables over at the soda joint?

Sure. What about her?

You've heard the guys
talking about her.

Come on, come on.

Why don't you drop in
on Ellie Saturday night?

What do you mean?

You want me
to draw you a picture?

Gee, Ellie Martin.

Okay. I know she's a dog.

What good will that do?

If I get caught there,
I'll get thrown out of school.

No one ever gets caught.
Sunday morning, people hear about it.

Not the dean,
I mean the fellows.

Ellie tells
and tells and tells.

Boy, you'd be made!

-Are you kidding?
-No!

Of course, if…

if that sort of thing
doesn't appeal to you…

Tom…

you've never been with
a girl alone, have you?

I don't mean dances.
I mean alone.

Do you wanna know something?

What?

Neither have I.

You mean all
those stories you told

about stopping over
in Boston and getting girls…

Okay! I'll be sorry I told you.

Then why don't you go see
Ellie Martin Saturday night?

Why should I?

You mean you don't
have to prove anything.

Forget it.

Probably a foul idea,
anyway.

Yeah.

Look, Tom, about next…

Next year, yes?

Mike Farrel's asked me to room with him
over at Harmon's house.

A lot of guys from the team
are over there.

Sure, sure.
I understand.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you until
now, after we made our plans.

I didn't know…

I understand!

I'll see you.

Al?

Yeah?

Here.

I said wear it.
Keep it.

It's yours.

See you.

Hi!

-Laura?
-I'm up here.

-I beat young Harvey at handball.
-Oh, good.

At last! It took
some doing, though.

He was after my scalp

because I gave him that
"d" minus on his last exam.

Oh, you…
you wanted this…

book of poems.

Why, yes.
How did you know?

The notice
from the bookstore.

Oh, that's very
sweet of you, dear.

You've already got it.

Well, yes. Someone
gave it to me.

Who?

Oh, Tom knew I wanted it.

Bill!

What difference does it make
that he gave me the book?

He knew
I wanted it, too.

I don't know.

It just seems that every time
that I try to do something…

Oh, Bill, don't say that.
It isn't so!

It is.

But this thing
of the book is funny.

I don't think
it's very funny.

Bill? Bill?

I'm very touched that
you should have remembered,

and thank you.

Oh, Bill, don't
turn away from me.

I wanted to thank you.

Is it such a chore to
let yourself be thanked?

Oh, Bill.

We so rarely touch anymore.

I keep feeling I'm
losing contact with you.

Don't you feel that?

Look, Laura, I've got to…

Yes, I know.
I know you've got to go,

but it's just that -I don't know-

we don't touch anymore.

You seem to hold yourself
aloof from me,

and a tension seems
to grow between us and…

You don't feel that?

You don't feel yourself
holding away from me

until it becomes
overpowering, and then…

Oh, Bill, there's no
growing together anymore,

no quiet times,

just holding hands

and a feeling of closeness,
like it was in Italy.

Now it's…

Oh, Bill,
do you see?

You do see.

I don't know what you're
talking about, Laura.

It can't always
be a honeymoon.

Do you think that's
what I was talking about?

I don't know why you chose a
time like this to talk about…

Yes, I don't know why either.

I just wanted to thank you
for the book

and I'm sorry I said
anything. I…

Could I get you some tea?

No, thank you.

Little Joan Harrison's
coming over for tea.

No, she isn't.
I saw her father at the gym.

I don't think that was a very
smart thing for you to do, Laura.

I thought Tom could ask her
to the dance on Saturday.

He's on the committee,
and he has no girl to take.

I understand he's no
longer on the committee.

You're a hostess,
aren't you?

Yes, I am a hostess.

I have that mountain-climbing
business this weekend.

The weatherman
predicts rain.

Oh, well,
that's too bad.

You know we're losing Al
next year because of Tom.

Oh, you've heard.

Yep. He'll probably be
captain of the baseball team.

Last time we had
a major sports captain

was eight years ago.

Yes. I'm sorry
about that.

However, we'll also
be losing Tom.

Oh?

Yeah. We have no singles
in this house,

and Tom will be
rooming alone.

I'm sorry
to hear that.

I knew that
you would be.

Bill, why should my interest
in this boy make you angry?

I'm not angry.

You're not only angry,

it's almost as though
you were, well, jealous.

What?
Come now, Laura.

How else can you explain
your vindictive attitude towards him?

I'll go directly from class
to the dining hall, all right?

Yes, dear, of course
it's all right.

And, Laura,
seeing Tom so much,

having him to tea
alone all the time…

Yes, dear.

I think you ought to have him down
only when you have the other boys.

For his own good.

I mean that.
Now, I'll see you in the dining hall.

Try to be on time.

Hello.

I'd like to speak
to Ellie Martin, please.

Oh, hello. Ellie?

This is Tom Lee.

Tom Lee.

Well, I'm down at
the soda fountain all the time

with my roommate Al Thompson.

Yeah. Well, I'll tell you
what I wanted, Ellie.

I'm not going to the dance
on Saturday night,

and I wondered
if you're doing anything.

Well, I mean,
I wondered if maybe I could

drop over and pick you up

after you get through
work on Saturday night.

I don't know what's
in it for you.

Yeah, something,
I guess.

I just thought
I'd like to see you.

Okay, well, what time do
you get through work? 9 o'clock?

All right.
I'll see you then.

Oh! Thanks.

Oh, excuse me,
Mrs. Reynolds.

How are you, Ellie?

Keep your big,
fat hands off me.

I'm in a hurry. I'm late
picking up my girl for the dance.

Say, aren't we
the little gentleman tonight?

-Live it up, buster.
-All right.

I'd like a package of these.

-Matches?
-No, thanks.

Thanks.

Want something else?

No, thanks.

You're Mrs. Reynolds,
aren't you?

Yes.

Nice flowers.
Having a party?

Yes. Of sorts.

Real pretty.

Take one.

Thanks.

-Well, good night.
-Good night.

Oh! Have a nice party.

Thanks.

I'll never make it.

Tom?

Well, I've been
expecting you.

Are you going to the dance
after all?

No. You can report me
if you like,

out after hours,

or you can
give me permission.

Can I have permission
to go out?

I think I better
get you some coffee.

You can tell them that, too,
that I've been drinking.

There'll be lots
to tell before…

I didn't drink much,

but I didn't
eat much, either.

Let me get you
something to eat.

No. I can't stay.

Well, all right.

It's a nasty night out,
isn't it?

I wasn't planning
to come in.

Then why the flowers?

And the card? "For a pleasant evening"

Well, that was
for the dance.

I forgot to cancel.

Well, I'm glad you didn't.

Why?

For one thing,
I like to get flowers,

and for another thing,
it's my…

Let me get you some coffee.
It's all made.

No. I'm just about right.

Look…

drink this.

I've only had a sip.

Come on.

Well, you can drink
from this side.

And for another thing?

What do you mean?

Well, for one thing, you…

Oh, yes. I like to get flowers,
and for another thing,

it's nice to have flowers
on my anniversary.

Anniversary?

Yes.

And Mr. Reynolds
on a mountaintop with 20 stulp ??? …

Didn't he remember?

Well, it's not
that anniversary.

Oh?

Come along.
Let me take your coat.

No. I…

Well, how nice you look.

Put me in a blue suit
and I look like a kid.

How did you know
I liked these flowers?

You mentioned it.

You're very quick
to notice these things.

So was he.

Who?

My first husband.

That's the anniversary.

Well, I… I didn't know.

He was, I'd say,
about your age.

How old are you, Tom?

18…

tomorrow.

Tomorrow?
We'll celebrate.

You'd better not
make any plans.

He was just
your age then,

maybe a few months older.

Such a lonely boy,

away from home
for the first time

and going off to war.

War?

Yes. He was killed.

I'm sorry…

but I'm glad
to hear about him.

Glad?

Yes.

I don't know.

He sounds like someone

you should have been
married to and not…

I'm sorry.

He was killed being
conspicuously brave.

He had to be conspicuously
brave, you see,

because, well, something had
happened in training camp

-I don't know what-

but he was afraid the
others thought him a coward.

He showed them he wasn't.

He had that satisfaction.

What was it worth
if it killed him?

I don't know,
but I can understand.

Yes, of course you can.

You're very like him.

Me?

Here. Before I finish it all.

He was kind
and gentle and lonely.

We knew it wouldn't last.
We sensed it.

But he always said,

"why must the test of everything
be its durability?"

I'm sorry he was killed.

I'm sorry he was killed
the way he was killed.

In trying to prove
he was a man,

he died a boy.

Still, he must
have died happy.

Why? Because he
proved his courage?

That

and because he was
married to you.

I've got to go.

Please, Tom.

I've got to!

It must be a very
important engagement.

It is.

If you go now, I'll think I've
bored you talking all about myself.

No, you haven't.

I probably shouldn't
have gone on like that,

but I just got into
a reminiscent mood.

Don't you ever get in reminiscing
moods on nights like this?

About what?

Come, now. There must be
something nice to remember.

Or someone, isn't there?

Can I have
some more coffee?

Yes, of course.

It was my seventh
grade teacher.

What?

That's who I remember.

Oh.

Miss Middleton.

How sweet.

It wasn't sweet.
It was terrible.

Tell me about her.

Well, she was just
out of college.

Tall, blond,
honey-colored hair,

and she wore a polo coat
and drove a convertible.

Sounds very fetching.

Ever since then, I've been a
sucker for girls in polo coats.

I think I have one.

Yes, I know.

Well, what happened?

What could happen?

As usual, I made
a fool of myself.

I guess everyone knew
I was in love with her.

People I like,
I can't help showing it.

But that's a good trait.

Whenever she wanted someone

to go downtown and
help her with errands,

there I was.

She liked you too, then.

This is a stupid thing
to talk about.

I can see
why she liked you.

I…

I thought
she loved me.

I was 12 years old.

Oh, puppy love
can be heartbreaking.

I'm always falling in
love with the wrong people.

Who isn't?

You, too?

Well, it wouldn't be any fun
if we didn't.

Of course,
nothing ever comes of it,

but there are
bittersweet memories,

and they can be pleasant.

Well, now. Who else have you been
desperately in love with?

It's 9 o'clock. I'm late.

Can't I persuade you to stay?

We were getting on so well.

Thanks.

In another moment I'd have told you
all the deep, dark secrets of my life.

I'm sorry.

Won't you even
stay for a dance?

I don't dance.

I know. I was
going to teach you.

Some other time.

Oh, please. For me?

-Tell me something.
-Yes?

-Why are you so nice to me?
-Why?

You're not this way with
the rest of the fellows.

No.

No, I know I'm not.

I just wondered why.

I guess, Tom,

I guess it's
because I like you.

No one else seems to.

Why do you?

Well, I don't know.

Is it because
no one else likes me?

Is it just pity?

Oh, no, Tom.
No, of course not.

It's just that, well,

you've been
very nice to me,

very considerate.

It wasn't easy for me coming
into a school my first year,

and you seemed
to sense that.

I don't know. We just
seemed to hit it off.

Mr. Reynolds knows
you like me.

Yes, I suppose so.
I haven't made a secret of it.

Is that why
he hates me so?

Oh, I don't think
he hates you.

Yes, he hates me.

Why lie?

I think everyone here
hates me, except you.

But they won't.

No, of course
they won't.

He hates me because
he made a flop with me.

I know all about it.

My father put me in this
house when I first came here,

and when he left me,
he said to your husband,

"make a man out of him".

He's failed and he's mad.

And then you came along
and were nice to me

out of pity!

No, Tom, not pity.

I'm too selfish a woman
to like you just out of pity.

There's so much
I don't understand.

-Tom, don't go out tonight.
-I've got to.

That's one thing
that's clear.

I've got to.

Won't you even let me
teach you how to dance?

Oh, Tom.

Tom.

No, Tom. No.

Tom!

Let's get inside,
out of this wet!

What's the matter
with you?

What are you
doing back?

The whole bunch
is back.

Who wants to go
mountain-climbing in the rain?

Hey! Come on!

I don't know
about that!

Any of you fellows want
to go across the street

and get something to eat when
you get changed, go ahead.

Oh, hi!

Hello, dear.

The one weekend a year
we get to go mountain-climbing
and it rains.

Yes, that's too bad.

I think the fellows wanted me
to invite them down for a feed,
but I didn't want to.

I thought we'd be alone. Okay?

Yeah. Sure.

Boy, it really rained.

We didn't even make it above the timberline
when it started to come down.

Another hour or so,

we could have made it to the hut
and stayed the night,

but the fellows,
they wanted to turn back.

What was that?

Nothing, dear.

Nothing at all.

You know, all day long
I'm up to my elbows in coffee.

And what do I want
when I get here?

A cup of coffee.

I don't want any coffee.

Well, I do.

You ought to take that coat off.
It's damp!

It's all right.

You're gonna leave it on?

Now, you sure you
don't want some coffee?

No. Thanks.

Since I was entertaining,
I thought I'd decorate the place.

Nice, huh?

-What's the matter?
-Nothing.

Well, I think
it's pretty.

Yeah, it's pretty.

Yep.

A cup of coffee
and the radio.

First thing I get here.

It's crazy, isn't it?

It's a lousy radio.

I saw a beauty down at Meyers
the other day.

Well, it was 20 bucks,
though.

I'll get it for you.

Would you?

Aw, thanks.

It's the green
and black job.

Right-hand window.

Sure.

Thanks.

It's all right.

Wanna dance?

I don't dance.

Well…

I'm gonna teach you.

It will sort of get us
in the same county, huh?

I think I will have
a cup of coffee.

You want some more?

No, I don't want it.

I shouldn't drink
so much.

I tell you,

it gives me a…

It's an acid
condition.

It's good.

Say, what is it the fellows
call you at the soda joint?

I hear them
call you something.

Nothing.

Well, I hear them
call you something.

Let's dance, huh?

Boy, are you jumpy.

I'm sorry.

Please.

Oh, look, look.
Now, relax, huh?

Relax.

Look, just sort of walk
to the music in time.

And if you don't want to
walk, you just stand still.

Just relax, huh?
Relax. Come on. Come on.

You know,
I'll tell you.

I used to work at a dime-a-dance place
in New York where…

What are you laughing at?
You've never been there.

I don't know.

Have you ever been out
with a girl before?

Sure.

Listen, are you here
on a bet or something?

No. Come on.

Aren't we the original
hot and cold boy?

I'm sorry.

Now listen,
quit being so sorry,

or I'm gonna be sorry, too.

Come on.

It's a funny thing.

I can't remember
what they called…

Well, my, my.

Don't tell me I'm the first girl
you ever kissed.

Well…

I get them all.

Now, come on, puppy.

Give me your paw.

You see?

You getting the idea,

or do you wanna call mama
and ask her what to do, huh?

You've got soft hands,
almost like a girl's.

Oh, is that what they call you,
Sister Boy!

Well, no wonder!

Sister boy!
I should have known.

Oh, no!

What are you doing?

What's the matter with you?

What are you do…

Just let me alone!

What's the matter with you?

Nothing's the matter with me!
Nothing!

Stop him!

Stop him!
He's got a knife!

He's crazy!
Get him! Get him!

Let me alone!

Stop him!

Now, get that guy
out of here!

Let the school's cops
take care of him!

Will you listen to me
for a second?

I'm telling you,
the guy went and saw Ellie.

Who are you trying to bull?

For crying out loud,

the school police caught him
coming out of her place.

You're probably the last
guys to hear about this thing.

Well, how about that?

What would he want to go
and do a thing like that for?

-Hello, Laura.
-Hello, Mr. Lee.

Bill isn't in right now.

My train was 20 minutes late.

I was afraid
I'd missed him.

We have an appointment with the dean
in just a few minutes.

Oh, I see.

Bill's over… he's over
talking to the girl.

He decided someone should get the details
before you go to the dean's.

The details?
I mean really,

after all…

Excuse me, Mr. Lee,
but you seem rather,

well, rather pleased.

Well…

You know Tom will be expelled
for being with this girl.

Now, a boy can't keep in bounds
all of his life, Laura.

It was just very
foolish of him

to be found leaving the place
by the school police.

I think you're
proud of him.

Perhaps for the first time
in his life,

you're proud of him because
he was found out-of-bounds with a…

I suppose it is hard for
a woman to understand,

but believe me, Laura,
in years to come,

it'll be just another
amusing smoking-car story.

-Off to the tea dance, Ted?
-Yeah, Mr. Reynolds.

Have a good time.

Bill.

Oh, hello, Herb.

I was afraid I might be late
for our appointment with the dean.

Don't go for a minute, Laura.

Is Tom sitting around
telling the boys all about it?

No, Herb.
No, he's alone in his room.

He has been ever since
the school police

brought him in last night.

I was just telling your wife,
trying to make her understand

the male point of view
on this matter.

I mean, how being kicked out
for this kind of thing,

while not exactly desirable,
is still not so serious.

Sort of one of the calculated
risks of being a man.

Herb.

Yes, Bill? I mean, you do agree
with me on that, don't you?

The situation is not exactly
as it was reported to you
on the telephone.

What do you mean?

It's true that Tom went
to this girl Ellie's place.

It's true that he went there
for the usual reason.

However, it didn't
work out that way.

She tried to help it along
by getting him to dance.

She said something about
his hands being like a girl's.

Anyway, the upshot of the
whole thing was, he panicked.

He ran to the kitchen, he got a knife,
and he tried to kill himself.

The story is true.
Tom admits it.

You still think this will make
a good smoking-car story?

What do you mean?

Why did you want me
to stay to hear all this?

I thought
you should know the truth.

Bill, I just
don't understand.

I'm sure Bill will be
more explicit with you
if I leave the room.

Laura, Herb and I are going
to the dean's now.

I'm playing squash with
the headmaster at 5.

I'll see you
in the dining hall at 6:30.

I wish you'd stay
for a moment now.

What?

I'd like to talk to you.

Laura, I can't.

Bill, I wish you would.

Herb, do you mind
walking along?

I'll be with you
in a few moments.

Well, good-bye, Laura.

You're not going
to see Tom?

I don't think he'd want
to see me just now. Do you?

It's his birthday.

Oh, yes. So it is.

Well, I'll be
going along, Bill.

Now, Laura,
what is it?

I've got to get to the dean's
to discuss this matter.

Yes, of course, but
first I'd like to discuss

the boys who
made him do this.

The men and boys
who made him do this.

No one made him
do anything.

Is there to be no blame,
no punishment

for the men and boys
who taunted him into doing this?

What if he had succeeded in
killing himself? What then?

You're being
entirely too emotional.

If he had succeeded in killing
himself in Ellie's rooms,

wouldn't you have
felt some guilt?

I?

Yes, you.

I wish you'd look at the
facts and not be so emotional.

The facts? What facts?
There are no facts

except that this boy
is different,

doesn't conform to your
ideas of what a man is.

This whole thing is
judgment by prejudice,

and I resent it.

He's not like me; therefore, he
is capable of all possible crimes.

He's not one of us,
a member of the tribe,

so the tribe
has to find a scapegoat

to reaffirm
your shaky position.

You keep insisting that
I had everything to do with…

You stood by
and watched it happen.

You wanted to humiliate the boy
in the eyes of the school

because if he was right,
then you had to be wrong.

If he could be manly,

then you had to question your
own definition of manliness.

Well, Bill, he's right.

Sure. Ask Ellie.

Oh, because it was
distasteful for him.

Because for him,
there has to be love.

Manliness is not all
swagger and swearing

and mountain-climbing.

Manliness is also
tenderness…

and gentleness…

and consideration.

Look, Laura, I know this
has been a shock to you.

I know you were
fond of the boy.

You did all you could for him.
More than anyone would expect.

But after all, your responsibility
doesn't go beyond giving him…

Doesn't go beyond giving him
tea and sympathy on Sunday afternoons.

I'm going to tell you something.

It's gonna shock you,
but I'm going to tell you.

Laura, it's late.

Last night, I knew what
Tom had in mind to do.

I heard him making the date
with Ellie on the phone.

And you didn't stop him?
Then you're the one that's responsible.

Yes, I am responsible,
but not in the way you think.

I did try to stop him,

but not by locking him in his room
or calling the school police.

I tried to stop him
by being nice to him,

by being affectionate
and showing him he was liked.

I knew what he was going to do
and why he was going to do it.

He had to prove to you bullies
that he was a man,

and he was going to prove
it with Ellie Martin.

Well, last night

-I know this is
a terrible thing to say but-

last night, I wished
he had proved it with me.

You don't know
what you're saying.

My heart cried out to
this boy in his misery,

a misery imposed
by my husband.

And I wanted to help him
as one human being to another,

and I failed.

At the last moment,
I sent him away.

You mean you managed to overcome
your exaggerated sense of pity?

Oh, no.
It was not just pity.

I've been lonely
here, Bill-

miserably lonely.

We'll discuss this later.

Bill, you're always
running off!

We never talk things
out, our differences.

Can't we face them? I'm
not saying it's your fault.

It's probably mine, but
let's look at it, examine it.

Examine it,
criticize it.

If this thing of Tom
brings it out into the open,

let it come out!

You've been talking
about manliness.

What do you know about a man?

You were married
first to that boy,

again, a poor,
pitiable boy.

You want to mother a boy,
not love a man.

And that's why you've
never really loved me.

Oh, I did love you,

but not just for your
outward show of manliness,

but because you needed me.

And for one unguarded moment,

you let me know
you needed me.

And I have tried to find that moment again,
the year we've been married,

to find out
why you married me.

This is what you want,
this kind of talk?

We may arrive
at something honest.

It may not be us, you and I,
but it will be true and honest.

I married you because
you were kind and gentle
and womanly and understanding.

And toward me, you've only
been critical and undermining.

I have tried, Bill,
in every way.

I have tried,
but you haven't let me.

You were more interested
in mothering that boy up there
than becoming my wife.

I only gave him the affection
you didn't want. __

Oh, Bill, you do want it.

Why won't you let me love you?

Bill.

Bill, I have tried.
I have tried.

Tom?

Tom?

Tom.

I took your coat
back to your room.

You weren't there.

Hello?

Hello.

I didn't think you'd
ever want to see me again.

Why not?

After last night.

I'm sorry about what
happened downstairs.

I'm not.

You've heard everything,
I suppose.

Yes.

Everything?

Everything.

I knew your husband would be anxious
to give you the details.

Yes, he did.

So now you know, too.

Tom, dear,
you mustn't think…

What else
am I to think?

But you're not in love
with Ellie.

That's not supposed
to matter.

Oh, but it does.

I wish they'd let me
kill myself.

Tom…

Iook at me.

Tom?

Last night,

you kissed me.

Why did you kiss me?

It made you sick,
didn't it?

Didn't it?

How can you think
such a thing?

Well, you sent me away.
You…

Anyway, when you
heard this morning,

it must have
made you sick.

Tom…

I'm gonna
tell you something.

Tom?

That was the nicest kiss
I ever had

from anyone.

Tom,

one day,
you'll meet a girl,

and it'll be right.

Tom, believe me.

I wish I could…

but a person knows.
Knows inside.

Do you think that after last night,
I could ever…

But thanks.

Thanks a lot.

Years from now,
when you talk about this,

and you will,

be kind.

I'm sorry.

I used to live in this
room when I was here.

Crummy room, isn't it?

Yes, I guess it is.
My name's Tom Lee.

Hello. Say, did you write a book?

Well, yes.

I've seen it
in the library.

Well, I'm sorry
I barged in.

Oh, that's okay. Bye.

Bye.

Yes?

Mr. Reynolds?

Yes. Come in.

It's Tom Lee.

Oh, yes.

I just wanted to say hello.

Yes?

Everything looks
very much the same.

Does it?

May I…

May I ask
about Mrs. Reynolds?

I wrote her a letter here
a few years ago.

Was it… I mean…

I don't know
where she is.

A few months ago,

she must have been living
somewhere near Chicago.

She moved from there,

left a box of things
which was forwarded here.

This letter addressed
to you was in it.

Obviously, she never sent it
or even stamped it.

Hello.

No. What's the matter?

Have you got it there
in front of you?

All right.

Oh, the week
of the 9th, yeah.

Yeah. Read the names
alphabetically.

Yeah. It's a "c" plus.

That's a "b."

Who? Hap Hudson?

Well, that's a "b."

Is that the week
of the 16th?

Dear Tom:

I shall probably
never send this letter.

I probably
shouldn't even write it,

but I am impulsive

-that you know-

and my impulse
is to write it.

Perhaps in the cold light of morning
I will tear it up.

I don't know.

Tom, dear,

I have just read
your book,

your novel
about your days in school,

about us.

It is a lovely book,

tender and romantic
and touching.

And in it,
I come out rather like a saint.

But Tom,
that isn't the whole picture,

or even
the true picture.

You have romanticized
the wrong we did

and not looked
at it clearly.

At the end of the story,
you say

that the husband was
far better off without his wife

and the wife went on
to her own happy life.

You're quite wrong, Tom.

As you'll know,
I couldn't go back to Bill

after that afternoon with you
and pretend that nothing had happened,

and my not going back
ruined his life.

The week of the 16th?

I find that I sacrificed Bill
and our marriage.

He thought
he knew what he wanted:

to be left alone,

just as you thought
you knew what you wanted:

to kill yourself.

Both of you, in a sense,
were crying out to be saved

from what
you thought you wanted.

I answered your cry.

It was the easier one
to answer.

These are terrible things
to write to you, Tom.

About guilt and right and wrong,

but you are
old enough now to know

that when you drop
a pebble in the water,

there are ever-widening circles
of ripples.

There are always
consequences.

Anyway, Tom,
I've often wondered

if I didn't show
a lack of faith in you,

in your ability
to meet a crisis by yourself

and come through it alone.

They say
about dreadful experiences,

if they don't kill us,
they make us strong.

I was just afraid
that that one would kill you.

Dear Tom, I was so pleased
to read that you are married.

Have a good life,

a full life,

an understanding life.

Write good stories,

true stories.

About one thing
you were correct:

the wife did always keep
her affection for the boy

somewhere in her heart.

Synchronization: Héctor Lahoz