| DEAD POET'S SOCIETY
by Tom Shulman
Dialogue Transcript
MOTHER
Now remember, keep your shoulders back.
MAN 1
Okay. Put your arm around your brother.
MAN 1
Okay, one more.
HABER
Now just to review, you'll follow along with the procession until
you get to the headmaster. At that point, he will indicate to
you to light the candles of the boys'.
MAN 2
All right, boys. Let's settle down.
MAN 3
Banners up!
MR. NOLAN
Ladies and gentlemen, boys, the light of the knowledge.
MR. NOLAN
One hundred years ago, in 1859, forty-one boys sat in this room
and were asked the same question that now greets you at the start
of each semester. Gentlemen, what are the four pillars?
BOYS
Tradition! Honor! Discipline! Excellence!
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 your sons. This is why
we are the best preparatory school in the United States.
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 an honor's graduate
of this school and who, for the past several years, has been teaching
at the highly regarded Chester School in London.
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.
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.
MRS. PERRY
Lovely ceremony.
MR. NOLAN
Thank you. I'm so glad you liked it.
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.
FATHER 1
Come on, son.
MOTHER 1
Chin up.
BOY 1
Okay.
MOTHER 1
Chin up.
FATHER 1
No tears now.
BOY 2
I don't want to go here.
MOTHER 2
Honey, I love you.
FATHER 1
I'll walk you over.
MOTHER 2
Do your lessons.
NEIL
Hey. I hear we're gonna be roommates. I'm Neil Perry.
TODD
I'm Todd Anderson.
NEIL
Why'd you leave Balincrest?
TODD
My brother went here.
NEIL
Oh, so you're that Anderson!
FATHER
This is for his sinuses. And, oh, if he, if he can't, uh, swallow,
you give him one of these. And if he has trouble breathing, you
give him--
HABER
All right, fine.
FATHER
And, oh, did you remember your vaporizer? And the vapor--
BOY
Hey, how's it going, Neil?
CAMERON
Neil? Study group tonight?
NEIL
Yeah, sure.
CAMERON
Business as usual, huh? Hey, I heard you got the new kid. Looks
like a stiff. Oops.
NEIL
Listen. Don't mind Cameron. He's, uh, born with his foot in his
mouth. Know what I mean?
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. Meeks, door, close.
MEEKS
Yes, sir.
CHARLIE
Gentlemen, what are the four pillars?
BOYS
Travesty! Horror! Decadence! Excrement!
CHARLIE
Okay, study group. Meeks aced Latin. I didn't quite flunk English.
So if you want, we got our study group.
NEIL
Sure. Cameron asked me too. Anyone mind including him?
CHARLIE
What's his specialty? Bootlicking?
NEIL
Uh, he's your roommate.
CHARLIE
That's not my fault.
MEEKS
Uh, I'm sorry. My name is Stephen Meeks.
NEIL
Oh, this is Todd Anderson.
TODD
Nice to meet you.
MEEKS
Nice to meet you.
CHARLIE
Charlie Dalton.
KNOX
Knox Overstreet.
NEIL
Todd's brother was Jeffrey Anderson.
CHARLIE
Oh, yeah, sure. Valedictorian, National Merit Scholar.
MEEKS
Oh, well! Welcome to Hellton.
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'll help him with Latin.
CHARLIE
And English, and trig.
NEIL
It's open.
NEIL
Father, I thought you'd gone.
CHARLIE
Mr. Perry, sir.
MR. PERRY
Keep your seats, fellas. Keep your seats. Neil, I've just spoken
to Mr. Nolan. I think that you're taking too many extracurricular
activities this semester. And I've decided that you should drop
school annual.
NEIL
But I'm the assistant editor this year.
MR. PERRY
Well, I'm sorry, Neil.
NEIL
But, father, I can't. It wouldn't be fair.
MR. PERRY
Fellas? Would you excuse us for a moment?
MR. PERRY
Don't you ever dispute me in public! Do you understand?
NEIL
Father, I wasn't disputing you-
MR. PERRY
After you've finished medical school and you're on your own, then
you can do as you damn well please. But until then, you do as
I tell you. Is that clear?
NEIL
Yes, sir. I'm sorry.
MR. PERRY
You know how much this means to your mother, don't you?
NEIL
Yes, sir.
NEIL
You know me. I'm always taking on too much.
MR. PERRY
Well, that's my boy. Now, listen. You need anything, you let us
know, huh?
NEIL
Yes, sir.
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