Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2020 (RUSTLING, AUDIENCE MURMURS) Now remember, keep your shoulders back. Put your arm around your brother. That's it. OK, one more. Now, just to review - you will follow until you get to the headmaster. At that point, he will indicate to you to light the candles. TEACHER: Right, boys, let's settle down. Banners up. (BAGPIPES PLAY 'SCOTLAND THE BRAVE') Ladies and gentlemen, boys - the light of knowledge. (PIPE ORGAN PLAYS) (APPLAUSE) 100 years ago, in 1859, 41 boys sat in this room and were asked the same question that now greets you each semester. Gentlemen, what are the Four Pillars? BOYS: Tradition, Honour, Discipline, Excellence! In her first year, Welton Academy graduated five students. Last year, we graduated 51. And over 75% of those went on to the Ivy League! This kind of accomplishment is the result of fervent dedication to the principles taught here. This is why you parents have sent us your sons. This is why we're the best preparatory school in America! As you know, our beloved Mr Portius of the English Department retired last term. Later, you can meet his replacement, Mr John Keating. Himself an honours graduate of this school, who has been teaching at London's highly-regarded Chester School. (APPLAUSE) Richard, you forgot your bag! Hi, Johnny! (CAR HORN TOOTS) Glad you could come by. Thrilling ceremony as usual. Hello, Dr Nolan. Hello. This is our youngest, Todd. Mr Anderson. Your brother was one of our finest. Thank you. Lovely ceremony. Glad you could come. Good to see you. Tom. Hello, sir. Neil. We expect you to excel. Thanks. He won't disappoint. I'll do my best, sir. Come on, son. Chin up. No tears, now. OK. Bye, honey. I don't want to go here! Do your lessons. Hey, I hear we're room-mates. Neil Perry. Todd Anderson. Why'd you enrol? My brother went here. Oh, so you're THAT Anderson! Oh, this is for sinus. If he can't swallow, give him these. If he can't breathe... Fine. Oh, did you remember your vaporiser? How's it going, Neil? Great. Hey, Neil - study group tonight? Yeah, sure. Business as usual. Hey, that new kid looks like a stiff! Oops! Don't mind Cameron. He was born with his foot in his mouth. It's rumoured you did summer school. Yep, Chemistry. My father wanted me to. Good summer, Slick? Keen. Meeks - door - close. Yes, sir. Gentlemen. What are the Four Pillars? Travesty. Horror. Decadence. Excrement! OK, study group - Meeks aced Latin, I didn't quite flunk English, so we're ready. Cameron asked too - mind including him? What's his specialty? Bootlicking? He's your room-mate. That's not my fault. I'm sorry - I'm Stephen Meeks. This is Todd Anderson. Nice to meet you. Hello. Charlie Dalton. Knox Overstreet. He's Jeffrey Anderson's brother. Oh, yeah, sure! Valedictorian! National Merit Scholar! Well! Welcome to Hellton! It's tough - except for geniuses like Meeks. I help him with Latin. And English...and trig. - (KNOCK AT DOOR) - It's open. Father! I thought you'd gone. OTHERS: Sir! Keep your seats. Neil, I've spoken to Mr Nolan. You're taking too many extracurricular activities. I've decided you'll drop school annual. But I'm assistant editor. I'm sorry, Neil. But I can't - it's unfair! Fellas, would you excuse us? Don't dispute me in public! Father... After medical school, you can do as you please. Until then, do as I tell you! Yes, sir. This means a lot to your mother. Yes, sir. I'm always taking on too much. That's my boy. You need anything, let us know. Yes, sir. Why can't you do what you want? Tell him off - it couldn't get worse. That's rich! Like you tell your parents off? I don't like it either. You guys are the same way. All right, all right. Jesus! What will you do, then? Drop the annual. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it. I don't give a damn. Well, ah, Latin - 8.00, my room? Yes. Todd, you're welcome. Yeah, come along. Thanks. (CLOCK CHIMES) (BOYS YELL AND JEER) Slow down, boys! Slow down, you horrible phalanx of pubescents! Pick three laboratory experiments from the project list and report on them every five weeks. The first 20 questions from chapter one are due tomorrow. Agricolum. STUDENTS: Agricolum. Agricola. Agricola. Agricolae. Agricolae. Agricolarum. Agricolarum. Agricolis. Agricolis. Agricolas. Agricolas. Agricolis. Agricolis. Again, please. Agricola. Agricola. Your study of trigonometry requires absolute precision. Anyone failing to turn in any homework assignment will be penalised one point off their final grade. Let me urge you not to test this. Hey, Spaz! Spaz! Brain damage! (Whistles) Well, come on. All right, let's go. "O Captain! My Captain!" Who knows where that comes from? Anybody? Not a clue? From a poem by Walt Whitman about Abraham Lincoln. Now, you can either call me Mr Keating, or if you're more daring, "O Captain! My Captain!" Now, let me dispel some rumours. Yes, I too attended Hellton and I survived. No, I wasn't then the mental giant you see. I was the intellectual equivalent of a 98-pound weakling. Bullies kicked copies of Byron in my face. Now, Mr...Pitts - it's a rather unfortunate name. Mr Pitts, where are you? Mr Pitts, open your book at page 542. Read the first stanza of the poem there. 'To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time'? Yes. Somewhat appropriate, isn't it? "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, Old Time is still a-flying "This same flower that smiles today, tomorrow will be dying." "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may." The Latin for that sentiment is 'carpe diem'. What does that mean? It means 'seize the day'. Very good, Mr...? Meeks. Another unusual name. Seize the day. Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Why'd the writer use these lines? He was hurrying. No! Ding! Thank you for playing, anyway. Because we are food for worms, lads. Because every one of us here is one day going to stop breathing and die. Step over here and peruse some faces from the past. You've walked past them often, without ever really looking at them. Not unlike you, are they? Same haircuts, full of hormones just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like you. Did they wait until too late to start fulfilling their potential? Because you see, gentlemen, these boys are now fertilising daffodils. Listen close - you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen. You hear it? (Whispers) Carpe... Hear it? (Whispers) Carpe... Carpe diem. (Whispers) Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary. That was weird! But different. Spooky, if you ask me. Will he test us on that? Don't you get anything? What? WHAT? Let's go, boys. Hustle! That means you, Dalton. Who's for study group? Me! Me. I can't make it. I'm going to the Danburry's house. Who are the Danburrys? Friends of my dad's. Sounds great, doesn't it? Anything's better than Hellton hash. I'll second that. We'll see. Coming to the study group tonight? Uh, no... I've got some history to do. Suit yourself. Ready, Overstreet? Ready to go, sir. (DOORBELL RINGS) Chet, get that. Can't, Mom. GIRL: I'll go. Can I help you? Hi - Knox Overstreet. Ah, Dr Hager. Hi. This is the Danburry's? Are you visiting Chet? Mrs Danburry? No! Sorry - thank you, Chris. I'm Mrs Danburry. You must be Knox. Yes. Back by 9.00? Chris! I'm coming, Chet. Knox, how are you? Joe Danburry. Sir. He's the image of his father! How is he? Just did a big case. That's where you're heading. Yes! Duh! Replace these with x and y. Naturally. So what's wrong? You've been hogging it all day! How was dinner? Huh? How was dinner? Terrible. Awful. Why? What happened? Tonight, I met the most beautiful girl I have seen in my life... What's wrong with that? She's practically engaged. To Chet Danburry. The guy could eat a football. Too bad. Worse than 'too bad'. It's tragic! The girl loves a jerk! All the good ones do. Forget her. Open your trig book... I can't just forget her! Or think about trig! (RADIO WHISTLES) Got it! All right, gentlemen - five minutes. Let's go. Did you see her naked? Very funny, Dalton. That wouldn't be a radio, would it, Mr Pitts? No, sir. Science experiment. Radar. * Gentlemen, open your texts to page 21 of the introduction. Mr Perry, read the opening paragraph of the preface entitled 'Understanding Poetry'. "'Understanding Poetry' by Dr J. Evans Pritchard, PhD. "To fully understand poetry "we must first be fluent with its metre and rhyme. "Ask how has the poem's objective been rendered "and how important is that objective? "These questions rate the poem's perfection and importance. "Once these questions have been answered, "determining the poem's greatness is simple. "Plot the poem's perfection on the horizontal of a graph "and its importance on the vertical. "Then calculating the total area of the poem yields its greatness. "A sonnet by Byron might score high on the vertical, "but only average on the horizontal. "A Shakespearian sonnet, however, "would score high both horizontally and vertically, "giving a massive total area, "thereby revealing the poem to be truly great. "As you proceed through this book, practise this rating method. "As your ability to evaluate poetry in this manner grows, "so will your enjoyment and understanding of poetry." Excrement. That's my opinion of Mr Pritchard. We're talking about poetry. You can't describe poetry like 'American Bandstand'. "I give Byron 42, but I can't dance to him." I want you to rip out that page. Go on, rip it out. You heard me, rip it out. Rip it out! Rip it out! Thank you, Mr Dalton. Gentlemen, tear out the entire introduction! I want it gone. Leave nothing. Rip it out! Begone, J. Evans Pritchard PhD. Rip, shred, tear - rip it out! Rip it! We'll perforate it, put it on a roll. It's not the Bible, you won't go to hell. I want nothing left of it. We shouldn't be doing this! Rip, rip, rip! Rip it out! Rip! What the hell is going on?! I don't hear enough rip` Mr Keating. Mr McAllister. Sorry...I didn't know you were here. I am. Ah... So you are. Excuse me. Keep ripping, gentlemen. It's a war - your hearts and souls could be casualties. Thanks, Mr Dalton. Armies of academics going forward, measuring poetry - no, we will not have that here! You'll learn to think for yourselves again, learn to savour words and language. No matter what anybody says, words and ideas can change the world. See Mr Pitts' expression - like 19th century literature has nothing to do with business. Right? Maybe. Mr Hopkins, you may agree, thinking we should simply study Mr Pritchard and go quietly about the business of achieving other ambitions. Here's a little secret. Huddle up. Huddle up! We don't read and write poetry because it's cute. We read and write poetry because we're human and the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, business, engineering - these are noble and necessary pursuits. But poetry, beauty, romance, love - these are what we live for. To quote from Whitman - "O me! O life! Of the questions of these recurring. "Of the endless trains of the faithless. "Of cities filled with the foolish. "What good amid these O me, O life?" The answer is that you are here. Life exists and identity. The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on, and YOU may contribute a verse. What will your verse be? ALL: For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly grateful. Amen. Quite an interesting class you gave today. Sorry if I shocked you. Don't apologise. It was fascinating. Misguided though it was. You think so? It's risky encouraging them to become artists. When they realise they're not Rembrandts or Shakespeares, they'll hate you. We're just talking free thinkers. Free thinkers at 17?! I never pegged you as a cynic. Not a cynic. A realist. "Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams, "And I'll show you a happy man." "But only in their dreams can men be truly free. 'Twas always thus and always thus will be." Tennyson? No - Keating. I found his senior annual in the library. Listen - "Captain of the soccer team, the school annual editor, "Cambridge bound, Thigh Man and the Dead Poets Society." "Man Most Likely To Do Anything"! "Thigh Man". Mr K was a hell-raiser! What's the Dead Poets Society? Does the annual explain it? No. NOLAN: You see me after lunch. (Keating whistles '1812 Overture') Mr Keating! Mr Keating! Sir? Say something. O Captain! My Captain! Gentlemen. We were looking in your old annual. Oh, my God! No, it's not me. (Nostalgically) Henry 'The Tool' Wilson. (Chuckles) What's the Dead Poets Society? The present administration wouldn't look too favourably on that. Why? What was it? Gentlemen, can you keep a secret? Sure. The Dead Poets were dedicated to "sucking the marrow out of life". That's a phrase from Thoreau. We gathered at the old Indian cave and read from Thoreau, Whitman, Shelley - the biggies. Even our own verse. We'd let poetry work its magic. It was guys reading poetry? It wasn't just 'guys'. We weren't a Greek organisation. We were Romantics. We didn't just read poetry. It dripped from our tongues like honey. Spirits soared, women swooned and gods were created, gentlemen. Good way to spend an evening! Thanks for this stroll down amnesia lane. Burn that - especially my picture. (Whistles) Dead Poets Society. What? (BELL RINGS) Let's go tonight. Wait a minute. Everybody in? Where's this cave? Beyond the stream. That's miles! Sounds boring. Don't go! We'll get demerits. Don't come! We have to be careful. We can't get caught. No shit?! YOU BOYS, HURRY UP! All right - who's in? Come on. Hager's... Forget Hager. Who's in? I'm in. HAGER: I'm warning you all! Me too. I don't know, Neil. What? His grades are hurting. Help him. Is it a study group? You're coming. Meeks? I'll try anything once. Except sex. As long as we're careful. You in, Knox? I dunno. It'll help you get Chris. Yeah? How? "Women swoon"! Why do they swoon? Tell me why they swoon! You follow the stream to the waterfall and it's right there. This sounds dangerous. What?! Then stay home. But it's crazy! For God's sake, stop chattering and sit down. Todd, are you coming tonight? No. Don't you want to do something? Yes. But... But what? Keating said everybody took turns reading. I don't want to do that. You really have a problem with that? No, I don't have a problem. I just don't want to do it. All right. What if you just came and listened? That's not how it works. Forget how it works. What if they don't mind? Are you going to ask them? No. Hang on. Neil. NEIL! (All whisper) Oh, shut up, will you? (Someone plays kazoo) Give that back, please. Give that back. You're in. Get away. Check your pockets. How can I brush my teeth? Get off! Cut out that racket! (Someone blows kazoo loudly) (Dog barks) What's the time? 11.00. All right. Let's get out. Go. Go. (Owl hoots) (Owl hoots) Haaaaah! I'm a dead poet. Guys, over here! MEEKS: You're funny. Real funny. It's too wet. Are you trying to smoke us out? Aaargh! (All laugh) Are you OK? (Groans) All right. Forget the fire. Let's go, gentlemen. I hereby reconvene the Dead Poets Society. (All cheer) The meetings will be conducted by myself and the other new initiates. Todd Anderson, because he prefers not to read, will keep the meetings' minutes. Here's the traditional opening by Henry Thoreau. "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately - "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." I'll second that! "To put to rout all that was not life, and not, when I come to die, discover that I had not lived." (Whistles) Keating's marked some other pages. All right, intermission. Dig deep. Lay it down. On the mud? Meeks, put your coat down. Picnic blanket. Yes, sir! Don't keep anything back, either. You guys always bum my smokes. Raisins? Yeah. Who gave half a roll?! I'm eating the rest. Come on! Want it back? It was a dark, rainy night. This old lady sat alone in her house to complete a new jigsaw puzzle. As she completed the puzzle she realised to her astonishment that the image was her own room and the central figure was herself. With trembling hands, she placed the last four pieces and stared in horror at a demented madman at the window. The last thing she heard was the sound of breaking glass. No shit? This is true! I've got one that's even better. There's a young couple driving through the forest. They're out of gas. A madman... (All complete story) I love that story! I told you that. You did not. "In a mean abode lived a man named William Loat. "His wife, the plague of his life "Continually got his goat. "One day at dawn he slit her bloody throat." It gets worse! I've got a real poem. Here. No. Did you memorise the poem? Move out. An original by Charlie Dalton. An original. Take centre stage. This is history. (Clears throat) (All exclaim) Where's that from?! "Teach me to love? "Go teach thyself more wit. "I, chief professor, am Ovid, the God of Love "If such a thing there be, then learn to love from me." Wow! You wrote that? Abraham Cowley. OK. Who's next? Alfred Lord Tennyson. "Come, my friends, "'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. "My purpose holds to sail beyond the sunset. "Though we are not now that strength "Which in old days moved earth and heaven, "That which we are, we are. "One equal temper of heroic hearts, "Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. "To strive, to seek, to find and not to yield." "Then I had religion. Then I had a vision. "I could not turn from their revel in derision. "Then I saw the Congo creeping through the black "Cutting through the forest with a golden track. "Then I saw the Congo creeping through the black "Cutting through the forest with a golden track." (All chant) "Then I saw the Congo creeping through the black "Cutting through the forest with a golden track..." (All continue to repeat poem's lines) (Voices continue) (CLOCK CHIMES) * A man isn't 'very tired'. He is 'exhausted'. Don't use 'VERY sad'. Use... What, Mr Overstreet, you twerp? Morose? Exactly! 'Morose'. Language was developed for one endeavour. What, Mr Anderson? Are you a man or an amoeba? Mr Perry? To communicate. No! To woo women! Today we'll discuss William Shakespeare. (All groan) I know - you look forward to this like you look forward to a root canal Shakespeare is someone who writes something very interesting. Many have seen Shakespeare done like this. (Poshly) "O, Titus, bring your friend hither." If you've seen Marlon Brando... (Imitates Marlon Brando) Shakespeare can be different - "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." (All laugh) Imagine John Wayne as Macbeth. "Well, is this a dagger I see before me?" (Imitates various accents) "Dogs, sir? "Not just now." "I enjoy a good dog. "You can have a three-course meal from one dog. "Start with Canine Coup D'etat. "Fido Flambe for main course "and for dessert, Pekingese Parfait. "Pick your teeth with a paw." Why do I stand here? Anybody? To feel taller? No. Thanks for playing. I stand here to remind myself we must constantly look at things differently. The world looks different from here. You don't believe me? Come and see for yourselves. Come on. When you think you KNOW something, look at it differently. Try even if it seems silly or wrong. Don't just consider what authors think, consider what YOU think. Strive to find your own voice. If you delay, you may never find it. Thoreau said most men lead lives of quiet desperation. Don't accept that. Break out. Don't walk off like lemmings. Look around. - (BELL RINGS) - There you go. Yes! Dare to strike out and find new ground. In addition to your essays, I'd like you to compose your own poem. (All groan) (Makes scary noise) That's right - you'll deliver it aloud in front of the class on Monday. Bonne chance, gentlemen. Mr Anderson! Don't think that I don't know that this assignment scares the hell out of you, you mole. (All laugh) Make a change in two! Keep your eyes on the boat! We got it! (ROCK'N'ROLL MUSIC ON RADIO) Radio Free America! SONG: # Some people like to rock Some people like to roll # But movin' and groovin' don't satisfy my soul # Let's have a party Ooh! Let's have a party # Send to the store, buy some more # Let's have a party tonight! # I found it! What? What I really want to do. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'? What's that? A play, dummy! But how does it involve you? They're putting it on at Henley Hall. Open tryouts! So? So... I'm going to act! I'm going to be an actor! I wanted to go to summer stock auditions last year, but my father wouldn't let me. At last I'll do what I want, whatever my father thinks! CARPE DIEM! But your father won't let you. I'll get the part, then worry about that. He'll kill you if he finds out. He won't know. That's impossible. Bullshit! Nothing's impossible. Ask him. Maybe he'll agree. That's a laugh! If I don't ask I won't be disobeying him. But... Whose side are you on?! I haven't even gotten the part yet. Can't I even enjoy the idea for a while? Coming to the meeting today? I dunno. Maybe. Nothing Mr Keating says means shit to you! Meaning? You're in the club. That means being stirred up by things. Where's your excitement? You want me out? No, I don't. But you've got to do something. Listen, Neil - I appreciate this concern. But I'm not like you. You say things and people listen. I'm not like that. Don't you think you could be? I don't know. The point is you can't help. So butt out. I can take care of myself. All right? No. What do you mean - "No"? No. Neil, give that back! "You're dreaming..." It's poetry! I'm being chased by Walt Whitman! OK. OK! What are you guys doing? I'm trying... Hey, Neil, don't be immature. Come on. Give it to me! (Yells out joyfully) (OUT OF TUNE FANFARE) COACH: Everybody on the bus. Let's go, boys. On the bus, boys. Devotees may argue that one sport is inherently better than another. For me, sport is a chance for us to have other humans push us to excel. Come and take a slip of paper and line up. Mr Meeks, time to inherit the earth. Mr Pitts, rise above your name. Hand these out. You know what to do, Pitts. "O, to struggle against great odds, to meet enemies undaunted." Say it like you're undaunted. "O, to meet enemies undaunted"! Now go on! Yes! Next. "To be a sailor of the world bound for all ports." Next. Louder! "To be a ruler of life - not a slave." "To advance to guns with perfect nonchalance"! (TRIUMPHAL CLASSICAL MUSIC) Come on, Meeks - listen to the music. "To dance, clap hands, exalt, shout, skip, roll on, float. On!" Yes! (Bored) "O, to have life henceforth the poem of new joys." Oh, booooo! Charlie, let it fill your soul. "To indeed be a god"! Charlie, I got the part! I'm going to play Puck. I'M PLAYING PUCK! What? I'm Puck! Great, Neil. I got it! Congratulations. Good for you, Neil. OK, OK, OK. Neil, how will you do this? I need a permission letter from my father and Mr Nolan. You're not writing it. I am. Neil, you're crazy! OK... I...am...writing...to...you... ..on...behalf...of... ..(solemnly)..my son, ...Neil...Perry. (Chuckles) This is great! Infallible Matte Cover foundation by L'Oreal Paris. Infallible Matte Cover foundation by L'Oreal Paris. You're worth it. * (BAGPIPE MUSIC) (Tears up paper) (Reciting) "To Chris." ALL: (Suggestively) Oooh! Chris! "I see a sweetness in her smile Bright light shines from her eyes "But life is complete Contentment is mine "Just knowing that..." (Hooting and snickering) "Just knowing that..." (Chuckling) "..she's alive." I can't. It's stupid. No, it's not stupid. It's a good effort. Touched on one of the major themes - love. In life as well as poetry. Mr Hopkins, you were laughing. You're up. (Snickering) "The cat sat on the mat." (Appreciative chuckling) Congratulations on the first poem to score negatively on Pritchard's scale! (Laughter) We're not laughing at you, we're laughing near you. I don't mind the simple theme. Beautiful poetry can be about simple things, like a cat or a flower or rain. Poetry comes from revelation. Just don't let your poems be ordinary. Now, who's next? Mr Anderson. You're sitting there in agony. Come on, Todd. Step up. I didn't write a poem. Mr Anderson thinks everything inside him is worthless. And embarrassing. Isn't that your worst fear, Todd? I think you're wrong. There's something inside you worth a great deal. "I...sound...my... "..barbaric...YAWP... "..over the rooftops... ..of the...world." W.W. - Uncle Walt again. A yawp is a loud cry or yell. Todd, demonstrate for us a barbaric yawp. You can't yawp sitting down. Come on. Up! Got to get in yawping stance. A yawp. No! A BARBARIC yawp. Yawp. Come on! Louder. YAWP. That's a mouse! Louder! Yell like a man! YAWP!! There it is! There's a barbarian in you after all. There's Uncle Walt up there. What does he remind you of? A madman. What kind? Don't think! Just answer! A crazy madman. Say the first thing that pops into your head! A sweaty-toothed madman. Good God! You're a poet after all! Close your eyes! Now, describe what you see. I close my eyes... Yes? His image floats beside me. A sweaty-toothed madman! His stare pounds my brain. Now give him action! His hands choke me. Wonderful! He's mumbling. What's he mumbling? Truth...a blanket that leaves your feet cold. (All laugh) Forget them! Stay with the blanket. Push it, stretch it - it's never enough. Kick it - it'll never cover us. We enter crying and leave dying. It covers your face as you wail and scream. (APPLAUSE) Don't you forget this. (BEETHOVEN'S 'ODE TO JOY') (Coughs) (All laugh) Attaboy! Inhale! Dad's got 30. Your parents collect pipes?! How interesting! Come on, Knox! Join in. ALL: (Suggestively) Chris!! (Whistles) Whoa!! That's not funny. Knock it off. Smoke your pipes. Neil! Honour us! Welcome! What is that, Neil? Duh! It's a lamp! This is the god of the cave! The cave god?! (Plays saxophone) Charlie, keep it down. Start the meeting! I need a light. Bring your earplugs? (Clears throat) Gentlemen. 'Poetrusic' by Charles Dalton. (Plays flamboyantly and badly) (All moan) Laughing, crying, tumbling, mumbling Gotta do more, gotta be more (Plays saxophone) (Plays long, harsh note) Chaos screaming, chaos dreaming Gotta do more, gotta BE MORE! (Plays sultry jazz) (All applaud) Where did you learn to play like that? I had to take clarinet lessons. I love the clarinet. I hated it! But the saxophone - the saxophone is more...sonorous. ALL: Oooh! Vocabulary words! I'll kill myself if I can't have Chris. Knoxious, calm down! No, Charlie! That's just my problem. I've always been calm. I'm gonna fix that. Where are you going? I'm gonna call her. (All speak excitedly) (Plays saxophone) GIRL'S VOICE: Hello? She's gonna hate me. The Danburrys will hate me. My parents will kill me. All right, goddamn it. You're right. Carpe diem. Even if it kills me. Hello? Hello, Chris? Yes? This is Knox Overstreet. Oh, yes...Knox. Glad you called. (Whispers) She's glad! We're having a party this weekend. Want to come? Come to A PARTY? (Whispers) Yes! 7.00, Friday? Sure. I'll be there. OK. Friday night. The Danburry's. Thanks. I'll see you. Bye. YAWP!! Can you believe it? She invited me to a party with her. At Chet Danburry's house? Yeah. Well? So? You don't really think you're going with her? Of course not. That's not the point. Not at all! What IS the point? The point...Charlie... Uh-huh... ..is... Yeah? ..she was thinking about me. I've only met her once, and she's thinking about me. Dammit, it's gonna happen. I feel it! She is going to be mine! (Hums happily) Carpe! * No grades at stake, gentlemen, just take a stroll. There it is. (Boys clap in time) (Chants) I don't know but I've been told Doing poetry is bold! Doing poetry is bold! Left, left, left, right, left... Left, left, left, right, left... ..left...HALT! Thank you, gentlemen. Everyone started off with their own stride. Mr Pitts - taking his time. He'll get there one day. Mr Cameron - he was thinking, "Is this right? It might be right." Mr Overstreet - driven by a deeper force. Yes. I didn't bring them here to ridicule them, but to illustrate conformity - the difficulty in maintaining your own beliefs in the face of others. Those of you ` I see the look in your eyes ` "I would have walked differently." Well, ask yourselves why you were clapping. We all crave acceptance. You must trust your own beliefs even though they may be unpopular, even though the herd may go - (imitating sheep) "That's baaad." Robert Frost said, "I took the road less travelled by "And that has made all the difference." I want you to find your own walk right now - proud, silly, anything. Gentlemen, the courtyard is yours. You don't have to perform. Make it for yourself. Mr Dalton! Will you join us? Exercising my right not to walk. Thank you for illustrating the point. Swim against the stream. Todd? Hey! Hey. What's going on? Nothing. Today's my birthday. Today's your birthday? Happy birthday! Thanks. What did you get? My parents gave me this. Isn't this...? The same thing as last year. Oh. Maybe they thought you needed another one. Maybe they didn't think anything at all. I didn't even like this the first time. You're underestimating the value of this desk set. (Sarcastically) I mean, who'd want a football, or a baseball?! Or a car. Or a car. If I were going to buy a desk set - twice - I would probably buy this one both times. In fact, this shape is... ..it's rather aerodynamic, isn't it? You can feel it. Whoosh! This desk set wants to fly. Todd? The world's first unmanned flying desk set. (Laughs) Oh, my! I wouldn't worry. You'll get another one next year. (Laughs uncertainly) ALL: "..to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life..." (FEMININE LAUGHTER) Oh, my God. This is it. (Girls giggle) Go on in. Watch your step. (Girls giggle) Hi! Oww! Hello. Hi, guys. Meet Gloria and... Tina! Tina. This is the Dead Poets Society. Hello. Hello. Guys, move! Move! It's Friday! Let's get on with the meeting. I have an announcement to make. In keeping with our spirit of passionate experimentation, I'm changing my name from Charles Dalton to Nuwanda. Nuwanda?! Nuwanda? (With mock awe) Yes, Master Nuwanda! (JUNGLE MUSIC) (Howls in Indian war whoop) (JUNGLE-BEAT ROCK MUSIC) Hello! Hello, Chris? SONG: # I crashed in the jungle while keeping a date # With my little girl back in the States... # Knox! You made it! Bring anybody? No. No?! Ginny Danburry's here. I have to find Chet. Everybody's upstairs! But, Chris... But, I... # Baby, baby, let's make romance # You know your old lover doesn't stand a chance... # Hey! Are you Mutt Sanders's brother? Bubba - this guy look like Mutt Sanders? You're his brother? No relation. Never heard of him. Wait! Gotta offer Mutt Sanders's brother a drink! Here. Have some whisky, pal. I don't really... To Mutt! To Mutt! To Mutt. How is Mutt, anyway? What's Mutt been up to? I don't really know Mutt. To mighty Mutt! To mighty Mutt! (Strangled voice) To mighty Mutt. I gotta find Patsy. Say hello to Mutt for me, OK? Hell of a guy - Mutt. We having a meeting, or what? Yeah. How else could we join? Join? "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? "Thou art more lovely..." That's sweet! I made that up. Really? I'll write one for you too, Gloria. "She walks in beauty like the night... "She walks in beauty like the night "Of cloudless climes and starry skies "All that's best of dark and bright "Meet in her aspect and her eyes." That's beautiful! There's plenty more where that came from. (BOOGIE WOOGIE PIANO MUSIC) (Belches) (Couples moan) (Girl moans with pleasure) God help me! (Whispers) Carpe diem. # Hey, little girl, how's about a kiss? # You know I'll come get you early, baby # Won't keep you out too late # Say, little girl, now how's about a kiss? # Hey, little girl, how's about a kiss...? # Chet! Chet! Look! It's Mutt Sanders's brother! Huh? He's feelin' up your girl! What are you doing? Chet, don't! I know this looks bad, but... Chet, no! You'll hurt him! (All shout) God damn! Chet, stop it! Ahhh! Knox, are you all right?! Chris, get the hell away from him! You hurt him! Good! I'm so sorry. It's OK. Next time I see you, you die. Go ahead, pass it around. Me and Pitts are working on a hi-fi system. Shouldn't be that hard to put together. Yeah. I might go to Yale. Uh, or maybe not. Don't you miss having girls around? Uh, yeah! Yeah! That's part of what this club's about. I've published an article in the school paper by the Dead Poets. It demands girls be admitted to Welton. You didn't?! Yes. How? I'm a proofer. I added it. It's over now! Nobody knows us! They'll figure it out! They'll ask you what the Dead Poets Society is! Charlie, you had no right! It's Nuwanda, Cameron. That's right. It's Nuwanda. Are we just playin' around out here or do we mean what we say? If we only read poems, what are we doing? You shouldn't have done it. This could mean trouble. You don't speak for the club. Stop worrying about your little neck! If they catch me, I'll say I made it up! Fine. Sit. In this week's 'Welton Honour' there appeared a profane and unauthorised article. Rather than spend valuable time ferreting out the guilty persons - and I WILL find them - I'm asking any students who know about this article to make themselves known now. This is the guilty party's only chance to avoid expulsion. (TELEPHONE RINGS) (TELEPHONE RINGS AGAIN) Welton Academy. Hello! Yes, he is. One moment. Mr Nolan! It's for you! It's God. He says we should have girls at Welton. (LAUGHTER) Wipe that smirk off your face. You're not the first to try to get thrown out of this school. Others have tried and failed, as will you. Assume the position. (Sighs resignedly) Count aloud, Mr Dalton. (CRACK) (Voice quavering) One. (CRACK) Two. (CRACK) Three. (CRACK) (Painfully) Four. (CRACK) Five! What's the Dead Poets Society? Were you kicked out? No. So what happened? I'm to turn everybody in, apologise to the school, and all will be forgiven. What will you do? Charlie... Dammit, Neil. The name is Nuwanda. (Laughs) Excuse me. May we have a word, Mr Keating? This was my first classroom, John, you know. My first desk. I didn't know you taught. English. Long before your time. It was hard giving it up. I'm hearing rumours about some unorthodox teaching methods in your classroom. I'm not saying they're related to Dalton's outburst, but boys his age are very impressionable. Your reprimand made quite an impression. What was happening in the courtyard? The courtyard? Boys marching, clapping. That was to prove a point - dangers of conformity. The curriculum here is set, it works. You question it, they may too. Education's about thinking for yourself. At these boys' age - no! Tradition, John. Discipline. Prepare them for college, and the rest will follow. Creak. (Makes thumping sound) (All laugh) He starts walking around. Creak. "Assume the position, Mr Dalton." It's all right, gentlemen. Mr Keating. Mr Dalton. A lame stunt you pulled today. You're siding with Mr Nolan?! What about sucking the marrow...? That doesn't mean choking on the bone. There's a time for daring and a time for caution. A wise man understands the difference. I thought you'd like that. No. Being expelled isn't daring. It's stupid. Because you'll miss some golden opportunities. Yeah, like what? If nothing else, the opportunity to attend my classes. Got it, Ace? Aye-aye, Captain. Keep your head about you. That goes for all of you. ALL: Yes, Captain. "Phone call from God"! If it'd been collect - now that's daring! All right, go on. (CLOCK CHIMES) We're trying to rehearse, OK? (Reads) "A good persuasion, therefore hear me..." Put some excitement into the play. Take her hand, bring her down the stage, and stop at "There, gentle virgin..." (BELL RINGS) What's for dinner? Spaghetti meatballs! Save some for me. "But room, Fairy, here comes Oberon!" Father. Neil. Before you say anything... Don't you dare talk back to me. It's bad enough that you've wasted your time with this absurd acting, but you've deliberately deceived me! How did you expect to get away with this?! Answer me! Who made you do it? Was it this new man, Mr Keating? Nobody... I thought I'd surprise you. I've gotten A's... How did I find out?! "My niece is in a play with your son," says Mrs Marks. "No," I say, "my son's in no play." You made a liar out of me! Tomorrow you go and tell them that you're quitting. No, I can't! The performance is tomorrow. I don't care. You're through with that play! Is that clear? (Louder) Is that clear?! Yes, sir. I made many sacrifices to get you here and you will not let me down. No, sir. * (KNOCK AT DOOR) It's open. Neil. What's up? Can I speak to you? Sit down. Sorry. Excuse me. Some tea? Sure. Would you like milk or sugar? No. They don't give you much room. That's the monastic oath - no worldly things to distract me from teaching. She's pretty. She's in London. That makes it difficult. How can you stand it?! Stand what? How can you stay here? Because I love teaching. What's up? My father's making me quit the play at Henley Hall. Acting's everything to me. But he doesn't know... I see his point - we're not rich. But he's planning my life. He's never asked me what I want. Have you told him about your passion for acting? I can't. Why? I can't talk to him. Then you're acting for him too. You're playing the dutiful son. This sounds impossible, but you have to talk to him. I know what he'll say. He'll tell me that acting's a whim, that they're counting on me. He'll say to forget it. You're not an indentured servant. Prove it to him by your conviction and passion. If he still doesn't believe you, you'll soon finish school and be free. No. What about the play? Talk to him before tomorrow night. I... Isn't there an easier way? No. I'm trapped. No, you're not. Chris! Chris! Where's Chris Noel? Room 111, I think. Excuse me. Chris. Why are you here? I came to apologise. I brought these and a poem. If Chet finds you, he'll kill you. I don't care. I love you. You're crazy. I acted like a jerk. Please accept these. No! I can't. Just forget it. (BELL RINGS) I don't believe this. Just listen. (Reads) "The heavens made a girl named Chris "With hair and skin of gold "To touch her would be paradise..." (BELL RINGS) Get out of here. Cameron, you fool. Did you read it to her? Yeah. What did she say? Nothing. Nothing?! What do you mean? Nothing. But I did it. What did she say?! She must have said something! Seize the day! Did you talk to your father? He didn't like it one bit. But he's letting me stay in the play. He can't make it, he's in Chicago. But I think he'll let me stay with acting. Really? You told him what you told me? 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 schoolwork." Thanks. Baby! Hey, baby! Here I come. Excuse me just a moment. Yes. You're first. Todd, I'm trying to fix this! Nuwanda, you'll miss Neil's entrance. He's getting red. 'Getting red'?! What's that? You know Charlie. So Charlie, what's this 'getting red'? ALL: Ooh! What is that? It's an Indian warrior symbol for virility. Makes me feel potent. It drives girls crazy. Come on, Charlie. (Whistles) Chris. Why are you here? Gentlemen! I'll catch up. Yeah, come on. Chris, you can't be here. If they catch you... But it's fine... Shh! You came to my school and embarrassed me. I didn't mean to. Well, you did. Chet found out. I stopped him from coming here. Knox, stop this stuff. I can't, Chris. I love you. You keep saying that, but you don't even know me. Coming, Mr Overstreet? Go on, Captain. I'll walk. Knox, it just so happens that I couldn't care less about you. Then you wouldn't be warning me about Chet. I'll be late for the play. Are you going with him? Chet?! To a play?! Come with me. You're so infuriating! Just one chance. If you don't like me, I'll stay away. I promise. Dead Poets' honour. You don't have to see me again. What if Chet found out? He won't know anything. We'll sneak away after the play. This would be the end of it? Dead Poets' honour. What is that? My word. You are so infuriating! (Laughs) (HAUNTING FLUTE MUSIC) (Claps) Hey! There's Neil! Either I mistake your shape or making quite, or else you are that shrewd and knavish sprite call'd Robin Goodfellow. Thou speak'st aright. I am that merry wanderer of the night. I make Oberon smile, when I a fat horse beguile neighing in likeness of a filly foal. Sometime lurk I in a gossip's bowl, in very likeness of a roasted crab, and when she drinks, against her lips I bob. He's good, really good! Sometimes for stool she mistaketh me, then slip I from her bum, down topples she! And then the whole choir hold their hips and laugh and waxen in their mirth, and neeze and swear. A merrier hour was never wasted there. But room, Fairy, here comes Oberon. And here my mistress. Would that he were gone! Then, no bedroom me deny, for Hermia - I do not lie. Lysander riddles very prettily. Now much beshrew my manners and my pride, if Hermia meant to say, Lysander lied. For love and courtesy lie further off. Such separation becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid. Thy love ne'er alter, till thy sweet life end! Amen to that fair prayer, say I. Neil! That's your cue. Here's your crown. If we shadows have offended, think but this, and all is mended - that you hath but slumber'd here while these visions did appear, and this weak and idle theme no more yielding but a dream. Gentles, do not reprehend. If you pardon, we will mend. And as I am an honest Puck, if we have unearned luck now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, we will make amends 'ere long. Else the Puck a liar call. So, goodnight unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends, and Robin shall restore amends. (APPLAUSE) (LOUD CHEERS) Whooo! Your father's waiting. I thought you were all just wonderful! Excuse me. Excuse me! Neil! Neil! Neil, wait! I can't, guys. Neil! Neil! Neil! Neil! You have the gift. What a performance. You left even me speechless! In the car. Keating, you stay away from my son! Neil! Neil! Mr Perry, come on! Don't make it any worse than it is. Is it OK if we walk back? Captain? * (DOOR OPENS) We're trying very hard to understand why you insist on defying us. Whatever the reason, we're not going to let you ruin your life. Tomorrow I'm withdrawing you from Welton and enrolling you in military school. You're going to Harvard, and you're going to be a doctor. But that's 10 more years. That's a lifetime! Stop it. You make it sound like prison. You don't understand, Neil. You have opportunities I never even dreamt of! I've got to tell you what I feel! What? Tell me! What is it? Is it more of this acting business? Because you can forget that. What? Nothing. Nothing? Well, then let's go to bed. I was good. I was really good. Go and get some sleep. (Cries) It's all right. It's going to be all right. (Gasps) What was that? What? (Whispers) That sound. What sound? Tom? What is it? What's wrong? Neil? Tom, what is it? What's wrong? Neil? Neil? I'll look outside. Neil! (Sniffs) (Screams) NO!!!! Oh, Neil! Oh, my God! Oh! No! Oh, my son, my poor son! He's all right! (Hysterical) He's all right! Stop it! Stop it! (Wails) Todd? Todd... No, Charlie! What is it? (Whispers) Neil's dead! It's so beautiful. (Retches) Todd! It's OK, Todd! ALL: It's all right, Todd! (Sobs wildly) We'll explain it! It was his father! No! His father did it! His father killed him! Todd! Leave him be! (Screams) HYMN: # ..Shall surely follow me # And in God's house for evermore # My dwelling place shall be. # Amen. # NOLAN: Neil Perry's death is a tragedy. He was a fine student. One of Welton's best. And he will be missed. We've contacted each of your parents to explain the situation. Naturally, they're all quite concerned. At the request of Neil's family, I intend to conduct a thorough inquiry into this matter. Your complete co-operation is expected. You told him about this meeting? Twice. That's it - we're fried. How do you mean? Cameron's in Nolan's office finking now. About what? The club, Pittsy. Think about it. The Board of Directors, the Trustees and Mr Nolan. Do you think they'll let it blow over? Schools go down over these things. They need a scapegoat. (DOOR OPENS) What's going on, guys? You finked, didn't you, Cameron? What do you mean? You told Nolan everything about the club. There's an honour code at this school, all right? You tell the truth to teachers, or you're expelled. He's a rat! He just ratted to save himself. Leave him! I'm out, anyway! You don't know that yet! He's right. If you're smart, you'll co-operate like me! They're not after us! We're the victims. Us and Neil. Who are they after? Mr Keating, of course - the "Captain" himself! You didn't think he could avoid responsibility, did you? They're saying Mr Keating's responsible for Neil? Who else do you think, dumbass?! Administration? Mr Perry? Mr Keating introduced this crap! If it wasn't for Keating, Neil would be upstairs studying. That is not true! You know that! Keating didn't force us! Neil loved acting! I say - let Keating fry! Why ruin our lives? Leave him, Charlie! You just signed your expulsion papers, Nuwanda. If you others are smart, you'll do what I did. They know everything, anyway. You can't save Keating. But you can save yourselves. (DOOR CLOSES) Knox Overstreet! Meeks. Go away, I have to study. What happened to Nuwanda? Expelled. What did you tell them? Nothing they didn't already know. Todd Anderson! Hello, son. Hello, darling. (Whispers) Mom. Have a seat, Mr Anderson. Mr Anderson, we've put together what's happened here. You do admit to being a part of this Dead Poets Society? Answer him, Todd. (Whispers) Yes, sir. I have here a detailed description of what occurred at your meetings. It says Mr Keating encouraged you to organise this club, and to draw from it inspiration for reckless and self-indulgent behaviour. It says Mr Keating, in and out of the classroom, encouraged Neil Perry's obsession with acting, when he knew all along it was against the explicit orders of Neil's parents. Mr Keating's abuse of his position as teacher led directly to Neil Perry's death. Read that document carefully, Todd. Very carefully. If you've nothing to add or amend, sign it. What's going to happen to Mr Keating? I've had enough. Sign the paper, Todd! Grass is 'gramen', or 'herba'. 'Lapis' is stone. The entire building is 'aedificium'. (DOOR OPENS) Sit. I will teach you through exams. We'll find a permanent teacher English teacher during the break. Who will tell me where you are in the Pritchard textbook? Mr Anderson? (Mumbles) In the... I can't hear you, Mr Anderson. In the Pritchard... Kindly inform me, Mr Cameron. We skipped around a lot, sir. We covered the Romantics, post-Civil War literature... What about the Realists? We skipped most of that, sir. All right, then. We'll start over. What is poetry? (KNOCK AT DOOR) Come! Excuse me. I came for my personals. Should I come back after class? Get them now, Mr Keating. Gentlemen, turn to page 21 of the introduction. Mr Cameron, read aloud the excellent essay by Dr Pritchard - 'Understanding Poetry'. That page has been ripped out, sir. Borrow somebody else's book. They're all ripped out, sir. (Laughs) What do you mean? Sir, we... Never mind. Read! "'Understanding Poetry' by Dr J. Evans Pritchard, PhD. "To fully understand poetry, "we must first be fluent with its metre and rhyme. "Ask how the poem's objective has been rendered, and "..how important that objective is? "These questions rate the poem's perfection and importance. "Once these questions have been answered, "determining the poem's greatness is simple. "Plotting perfection on the horizontal..." Mr Keating! They made everybody sign it. Quiet, Mr Anderson! You gotta believe me, it's true. I do believe you, Todd. Leave, Mr Keating. But it wasn't his fault! Sit down, Mr Anderson! One more outburst from you, or anyone else, and you're out of this school. Leave, Mr Keating. I said leave, Mr Keating. Captain! My Captain! Sit down, Mr Anderson. Do you hear me? Sit down! Sit DOWN! This is your final warning, Anderson! How dare you! Do you hear me? O Captain! My Captain! Mr Overstreet, I've warned you! Sit down! Sit DOWN! Sit down, all of you! I want you seated! Leave, Mr Keating! All of you be seated! Do you hear me? Sit down! Thank you, boys. Thank you. Supertext Subtitles Copyright 1992 Australian Caption Centre Subtitlers: Terry Doherty Fiona Vaughan Anita Viesis Meredith Morse Malcolm Knox Subtitle Editors: Nicola O'Shea Javier Arriaga Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Able 2020