DEAD POETS SOCIETY 1 страница

FILM SCRIPT OF

DEAD POETS SOCIETY

Written By:

Tom Schulman

INT. WELTON ACADEMY HALLWAY - DAY

A young boy, dressed in a school uniform and cap, fidgets as his mother adjusts his tie.

MOTHER

Now remember, keep your shoulders back.

A student opens up a case and removes a set of bagpipes. The young

boy and his brother line up for a photograph

PHOTOGRAPHER

Okay, put your arm around your brother.

That's it. And breathe in.

The young boy blinks as the flash goes off.

PHOTOGRAPHR

Okay, one more.

An old man lights a single candle. A teacher goes over the old

man's duties.

TEACHER

Now just to review, you're going to

follow along the procession until you

get to the headmaster. At that point

he will indicate to you to light the

candles of the boys.

MAN

All right boys, let's settle down.

The various boys, including NEIL, KNOX, and CAMERON, line up holding

banners. Ahead of them is the old man, followed by the boy with the

bagpipes with the two youngest boys at the front.

MAN

Banners up.

The boys hoist the banners and the bagpipes begin to play loudly. The

small group marches out of the room and down a set of stairs into a

church. The pews are filled with students and parents while the

teachers, all dressed in robes, are seated at the front of the church

behind the headmaster.

The boys break off to either side at the front of the church. The

bagpipes cease and the headmaster, MR. NOLAN, walks over to the old

man carrying the candle.

MR NOLAN

Ladies and gentlemen, boys, the light

of knowledge.

An organ begins to play as the old man goes forward with shaking hands

to the young boys in the front pew. Each boy is holding a candle and

he bends over to light the first one. Each boy in turn lights the

candle of the boy next to him.

MR NOLAN

One hundred years ago, in 1859, 41 boys sat in this

room and were asked the same question that greets

you at the start of each semester. Gentlemen, what

are the four pillars?

All throughout the pews, uniformed boys rise to their feet. TODD, who

is not wearing a uniform, is urged by his father to stand with them.

BOYS

Tradition, honor, discipline, excellence.

The boys quickly return to their seats.

MR NOLAN

In her first year, Welton Academy graduated five

students. Last year we graduated fifty-one. And

more than seventy-five percent of those went on to

the Ivy League. This, this kind of accomplishment is

the result of fervent dedication to the principles taught

here. This is why you parents have been sending us

your sons. This is why we are the best preparatory

school in the United States.

Mr. Nolan soaks up the applause from the audience.

MR NOLAN

As you know, our beloved Mr. Portius of the English

department retired last term. You will have the

opportunity later to meet his replacement, Mr. John

Keating, himself a graduate of this school. And who,

for the past several years, has been teaching at the

highly regarded Chester School in London.

The crowd applauds once again.

EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY

The school lawn is a filled with luggage, students, and parents mulling about in every direction.

INT CHURCH ENTRANCE – DAY

Mr Nolan stands by the entrance, speaking with each family as they leave.

MR NOLAN

Glad you could come by.

MR ANDERSON

Thrilling ceremony as usual Dr. Nolan.

MR NOLAN

You've been away too long.

MRS ANDERSON

Hello Dr. Nolan.

MR NOLAN

Good to have you back.

MRS ANDERSON

This is our youngest, Todd.

MR NOLAN

Mr. Anderson. You have some big shoes to fill,

young man. Your brother was one of our finest.

TODD

Thank you.

Todd and his parents leave while others file past Mr. Nolan.

WOMAN

Lovely ceremony.

MR NOLAN

Thank you. So glad you liked it.

MR PERRY approaches with his son Neil. He shakes Mr. Nolan's hand.

MR PERRY

Gale

MR NOLAN

Tom

MR PERRY

Good to see you again.

NEIL

Hello Mr. Nolan.

MR NOLAN

Neil. We expect great things from you this year.

NEIL

Thank you, sir.

MR PERRY

Well he won't disappoint us. Right Neil?

NEIL

I'll do my best sir.

EXT SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY

A bell tolls. Parents begin wishing their boys farewell.

FATHER

Hey, come on son.

MOTHER

Chin up.

FATHER

No tears now.

BOY

Okay.

MOTHER

Chin up.

Another boy hugs his mother.

BOY

I don't want to go here.

MOTHER

You be a good boy and do your lessons.

EXT SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY

Neil emerges from a building and sees Todd.

NEIL

Hey, I hear we're gonna be roommates.

He shakes Todd's hand.

NEIL

I'm Neil Perry.

TODD

Todd Anderson.

NEIL

Why'd you leave Balincrest?

TODD

My brother went here.

NEIL

Oh, so you're that Anderson.

INT DORMATORY - DAY

DR. HAGER is standing in his room doorway while SPAZ and his father are going over some last minute precautions over the boy's allergies. Spaz's father hands Hager various bottles.

FATHER

This is for sinuses. Oh, and if he can't swallow you

give him one of these. And if he had trouble breathing

you can give him some of those.

HAGER

All right fine.

Dr. Hager takes the bottles and quickly backs into his room, shutting

the door.

FATHER

(to son)

Did you remember your vaporizer?

SPAZ

Yes, I put it in my room.

Spaz's father tries to say something else to Dr. Hager but realizes he

has already gone.

INT HALLWAY - DAY

Neil pushes his way through a crowd of boys, carrying two suitcases. As he enters his room, Knox quickly passes by.

KNOX

Hey, how's it going Neil?

NEIL

Hey Knox.

Cameron comes by and leans against the doorway.

CAMERON

Neil, study group tonight?

NEIL

Yeah, sure.

CAMERON

Business as usual, huh? Hey, I hear you got the new

kid. Looks like a stiff!

He begins laughing when he notices Todd coming into the room.

CAMERON

Oops!

Cameron quickly leaves. Neil tries to keep from laughing as Todd enters the room and sets his luggage down on his bed.

NEIL

Listen, don't mind Cameron. He was born with his

foot in his mouth. You know what I mean?

He pulls some papers from his blazer pocket and playfully whacks Todd

across the back with it.

CHARLIE comes to the door with a smug expression on his face. Knox and

MEEKS are close behind him. He points at Neil

CHARLIE

Rumor has it, you did summer school.

NEIL

Yep. Chemistry. My father thought I should get ahead.

How was your summer Slick?

CHARLIE

Keen.

The boys enter the room. Charlie turns around and looks at Meeks who is just entering.

CHARLIE

Meeks. Door. Closed.

MEEKS

Yes sir.

NEIL

Gentlemen, what are the four pillars?

BOYS

Travesty. Horror. Decadence. Excrement.

Charlie makes himself comfortable on Neil's bed and lights up a cigarette.

Meanwhile, Todd is by his bed unpacking his luggage.

CHARLIE

Okay, study group. Meeks aced Latin. I didn't quite

flunk English. So, if you want, we've got our study

group.

NEIL

Sure. Cameron asked me too. Anyone mind

including him?

CHARLIE

Hmm, what's his specialty, boot-licking?

NEIL

Come on, he's your roommate.

CHARLIE

That's not my fault.

Meeks seems to notice Todd for the first time.

MEEKS

Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Steven Meeks.

Neil quickly gets up from his spot by the window.

NEIL

Oh, this is Todd Anderson.

Todd turns around and shakes hands with Meeks.

MEEKS

Nice to meet you.

TODD

Nice to meet you.

CHARLIE

Charlie Dalton.

Charlie continues to lay on the bed, looking smug. Knox extends a hand.

KNOX

Knox Overstreet.

NEIL

Todd's brother was Jeffrey Anderson.

CHARLIE

Oh yeah, sure. Valedictorian. National merit scholar.

MEEKS

Oh well, welcome to Hell-ton.

CHARLIE

It's every bit as tough as they say, unless you're a

genius like Meeks.

MEEKS

He flatters me. That's why I help him with Latin.

CHARLIE

And English, and Trig.

Charlie begins coughing. There is a knock at the door. Charlie quickly

stamps out his cigarette on the floor and Neil tries to wave the smoke

from the air.

NEIL

It's open.

The door opens and Mr. Perry walks into the room. Neil quickly rises from the window.

NEIL

Father, I thought you'd gone.

The other boys stand up when he enters.

BOYS