CHARLIE
Creak. He started walking around towards my left. Creak. Creak.
"Assume the position, Mr. Dalton."
KEATING
It's all right, gentlemen.
CHARLIE
Mr. Keating.
KEATING
Mr. Dalton. That was a pretty lame stunt you pulled today.
CHARLIE
You're siding with Mr. Nolan? What about Carpe diem and sucking
all the marrow out of life and all that?
KEATING
Sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone.
Sure there's a time for daring and there's a time for caution,
and a wise man understands which is called for.
CHARLIE
But I thought you'd like that.
KEATING
No. You being expelled from school is not daring to me. It's stupid,
'cause you'll miss some golden opportunities.
CHARLIE
Yeah. Like what?
KEATING
Like, if nothing else, the opportunity to attend my classes. Got
it, Ace?
CHARLIE
Aye, aye, Captain.
KEATING
Keep your head about you. That goes for the lot of you.
BOYS
Yes, Captain.
KEATING
Phone call from God. If it had been collect, it wouldn't been
daring.
CHARLIE
All right. Go on, play.
DIRECTOR
We're trying to rehearse, okay? Start.
LYSANDER
A good persuasion, therefore hear me, Hermia.
DIRECTOR
Wait, please. Excitement. I don't hear any excitement about this
play. And take her hand. Bring her down the stage and stop. And
"There, gentle Hermia." Okay? Try again.
BOY 1
What's for dinner?
BOY 2
Spaghetti and meatballs!
NEIL
Save some for me. "But, room, Fairy! Here comes Oberon."
NEIL
Father.
MR. PERRY
Neil.
NEIL
Wait a minute. Before you say anything, please let me ex-
MR. PERRY
Don't you dare talk back to me! It's bad enough that you've wasted
your time with this, this absurd acting business. But you deliberately
deceived me! How, how, how did you expect to get away with this?
Answer me. Who put you up to it? Was it this new man? This, uh,
Mr. Keating?
NEIL
No. Nobody-- I thought I'd surprise you. I've gotten all A's in
every class.
MR. PERRY
Did you think I wasn't going to find out? "Oh, my niece
is in a play with your son," says Mrs. Marks. "No,
no, no," I say, "you must be mistaken. My son's
not in a play." You made me a liar of me, Neil! Now,
tomorrow you go to them and you tell them that you're quitting.
NEIL
No, I can't. I have the main part. The performance is tomorrow
night.
MR. PERRY
I don't care if the world comes to an end tomorrow night. You
are through with that play. Is that clear? Is that clear?
NEIL
Yes, sir.
MR. PERRY
I made a great many sacrifices to get you here, Neil, and you
will not let me down.
NEIL
No, sir.
KEATING
It's open.
KEATING
Neil, what's up?
NEIL
Can I speak to you a minute?
KEATING
Certainly. Sit down.
NEIL
I'm sorry. Here.
KEATING
Excuse me. Get you some tea?
NEIL
Tea. Sure.
KEATING
Like some milk or sugar in that?
NEIL
No, thanks.
NEIL
Gosh, they don't give you much room around here.
KEATING
No, it's part of the monastic oath. They don't want worldly things
distracting me from my teaching.
NEIL
She's pretty.
KEATING
She's also in London. Makes it a little difficult.
NEIL
How can you stand it?
KEATING
Stand what?
NEIL
You can go anywhere. You can do anything. How can you stand being
here?
KEATING
'Cause I love teaching. I don't wanna be anywhere else.
KEATING
What's up?
NEIL
I just talked to my father. He's making me quit the play at Henley
Hall. Acting's everything to me. I-- But he doesn't know. He--
I can see his point. We're not a rich family like Charlie's, and
we-- But he's planning the rest of my life for me, and I-- H-He's
never asked me what I want.
KEATING
Have you ever told your father what you just told me? About your
passion for acting. You ever show him that?
NEIL
I can't.
KEATING
Why not?
NEIL
I can't talk to him this way.
KEATING
Then you're acting for him, too. You're playing the part of the
dutiful son. I know this sounds impossible, but you have to talk
to him. You have to show him who you are, what your heart is.
NEIL
I know what he'll say. He'll tell me that acting's a whim, and
I should forget it. That how they're counting on me. He'll just
tell me to put it out of my mind, "for my own good."
KEATING
You are not an indentured servant. If it's not a whim for you,
you prove it to him by your conviction and your passion. You show
him that And if he still doesn't believe you, well, by then you'll
be out of school and you can do anything you want.
NEIL
No. What about the play? The show's tomorrow night.
KEATING
Well, you have to talk to him before tomorrow night.
NEIL
Isn't there an easier way?
KEATING
No.
NEIL
I'm trapped.
KEATING
No, you're not.
KNOX
Chris!
KNOX
Chris Noel. Do you know where she is?
GIRL
Um, I think she's in room 111.
KNOX
Thanks.
KNOX
Excuse me. Chris.
CHRIS
Knox, what are you doing here?
KNOX
I came to apologize for the other night. I brought you these and
a poem I wrote for you.
CHRIS
Knox, don't you know that, if Chet finds you here he'll kill you?
KNOX
I can't care. I love you, Chris.
CHRIS
Knox, you're crazy.
KNOX
Look, I acted like a jerk and I know it. Please, accept these.
Please.
CHRIS
No. No-- I, I can't. Forget it.
CHRIS
Knox, I don't believe this.
KNOX
All I'm asking you to do is listen. The heavens made a girl named
Chris With hair and skin of gold. To touch her would be paradise.
CHARLIE
Get out of here. Cameron, you fool. Hey, how'd it go? Did you
read it to her?
KNOX
Yeah.
PITTS
What'd she say?
KNOX
Nothing.
CHARLIE
Nothing. What do you mean, nothing?
KNOX
Nothing. But I did it.
CHARLIE
What did she say? I know she had to say something.
PITTS
Come here, Knox.
KNOX
Seize the day!
KEATING
Did you talk to your father?
NEIL
Uh, he didn't like it one bit, but at least he's letting me stay
in the play. He won't be able to make, make it. He's in Chicago.
But, uh, I think he's gonna let me stay with acting.
KEATING
Really? You told him what you told me?
NEIL
Yeah. He wasn't happy. But he'll be gone at least four days. I
don't think he'll make the show, but I think he'll let me stay
with it. "Keep up the school work." Thanks.
PITTS
Beautiful baby.
MEEKS
Beautiful baby. Henley Hall, here I come.
CAMERON
Excuse me, just a moment. Yes. You're so cute. Come on, Todd.
I'm trying to fix this.
TODD
Come on, Nuwanda. You're gonna miss Neil's entrance.
PITTS
He said something about getting red before we left.
CAMERON
Getting red? What does that mean?
PITTS
I, uh-- Well, you know Charlie.
TODD
So, Charlie, what's this "getting red" bit?
TODD
W-What is that?
CHARLIE
It's an Indian warrior symbol for virility. Makes me feel potent,
like it can drive girls crazy.
TODD
Oh, come on, Charlie. The girls are waiting.
KNOX
Chris.
KNOX
What are you doing here?
KEATING
Gentlemen, let's go.
KNOX
Go ahead, guys. I'll catch up.
CHARLIE
Yeah, come on, guys.
KNOX
Chris, you can't be in here. I-If they catch you, we're both gonna
be in big trouble.
CHRIS
Oh, but it's fine--
CHRIS
It's fine for you to come barging into my school and make a complete
fool out of me?
KNOX
I don't mean to make a fool out of you.
CHRIS
Well, you did. Chet found out. And it took everything I could
do to keep him from coming here and killing you. Knox, you have
got to stop this stuff.
KNOX
I can't, Chris. I love you.
CHRIS
Knox, you say that over and over. You don't, you don't even know
me.
KEATING
Will you be joining us, Mr. Overstreet?
KNOX
Go ahead, Captain. I'll walk.
CHRIS
Knox, Knox, it just so happens that I could care less about you?
KNOX
Then you wouldn't be here warning me about Chet.
CHRIS
I have to go. I'm gonna be late for the play.
KNOX
Are you going with him?
CHRIS
Chet? To a play? Are you kidding?
KNOX
Then come with me.
CHRIS
Knox, you are so infuriating.
KNOX
Come on, Chris. Just give me one chance. If you don't like me
after tonight, I'll stay away forever.
CHRIS
Uh-huh.
KNOX
I promise. Dead Poets Honor. You come with me tonight. And then,
if you don't want to see me again, I swear I'll bow out.
CHRIS
You know what would happen if Chet found out?
KNOX
He won't know anything. We'll sit in the back and sneak away as
soon as it's over.
CHRIS
And I suppose you would promise that this would be the end of
it.
KNOX
Dead Poets Honor.
CHRIS
What is that?
KNOX
My word.
CHRIS
You are so infuriating.
CHARLIE
Hey, there he is! Hey, hey.
KEATING
Shh, boys.
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