Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Thank you.

(Shouting)

(Man) Howzat!

(Second man) Well fielded!

(Man) Keep the pace up!

(Man) No running!

Colley!

Good Lord. Where do you imagine

this one's from?

By Jove. Those ears!

You think his mama used them

to hoist him out of his crib?

(Laughs)

- Sir? Follow me to the Headmaster.

- Thank you.

Chipping?

We've never had

a Chipping here.

Indeed, Headmaster?

It's Chipping as in Chipping Norton.

Or if you prefer, Chipping Camden.

I've never been to Chipping Norton

or to Chipping Camden.

Which, as you say, I may well prefer.

Now, the agency says

you're worth a second chance.

And here at Brookfield we believe

in giving the second chance.

Now...

The boys are, I warn you,

most energetic.

Most.

And if in your previous school

discipline proved a problem...?

- If I might explain...

- The fact is, Chipping,

our Latin master's gone,

came into a huge inheritance,

but there's still a month of term.

Ideal trial period!

We can always think again,

I mean, after that.

Can you take the Lower Fifth now?

Declensions, conjugations -

- no striving necessary.

- Yes. Thank you, Headmaster.

Thank you, Chipping,

we are rather desperate.

(Headmaster) Ah, Rivers. Good man.

Mr Chipping is taking the Lower

Fifth. Would you show him there?

- Yes, Headmaster.

- (Door opens)

We'll get you accustomed

to Brookfield's language

or you shan't know

what we're talking about.

A boy shan't ask for a glass of milk,

it's "a tot of dolly."

He mustn't wear "gutties" in dorm,

"gutties" are for cricket.

Nor can a boy wear his "pigs" in dorm

either - "pigs" are his boots.

- (Chattering)

- (Rivers) Walk!

The Upper Third. Like all

young beasts they need restraint.

Ahh!

Henshaw, you burnt

my toast again today.

Sorry, Rivers! I won't do it again!

That suggests you did it

deliberately.

You should say,

"I shan't let it happen again."

I shan't let it happen again,

Rivers! Ow!

The standard of fagging this year

is deplorable.

This is Mr Chipping.

He will take you for Latin.

All the books you shall need -

in the drawer. Sir.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.

(Boys) Good afternoon, sir.

(Chipping) Possum - I can.

Potes - you can.

- Potest...

- (Thud)

(Laughter)

May I enquire as to the nature

of your unannounced recreation?

(Boy) Please, sir,

he's playing possum.

- "Playing possum"?

- Like opossum - the animal, sir.

He's pretending to be dead, sir.

Take 100 lines and resume your desk.

Sir, I can't,

I hurt my arm when I fell.

(Laughter)

200 lines, and sit, please.

Oh, I think... I feel ill

(Imitates vomiting)

(Boys groan)

300 lines, after school,

in this classroom.

(Pretending to cry)

(Boys) Ohh...

500 lines and sit!

- Oh, no, sir...

- Right!

- Get back here!

- (Boys cheering and banging)

(Muffled shouting and banging)

Get back here, boy!

Go on, Colley, run!

Gentlemen!

(Silence)

Where is your honour?!

Is this the spirit of Brookfield?

From two o'clock tomorrow every boy

will come to my office for caning.

Alphabetical order,

one boy every five minutes.

Resume your books.

Er, the staff room, I think.

- Good afternoon.

- Afternoon.

(Chuckling)

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

- Burnley, Geography.

- Chipping, Latin.

- Glass of brandy?

- Thank you, no.

(German accent) What was that row?

Shh.

Hello! I'm Staefel. I do German.

Chipping. I do Latin, I hope.

Was that your baptism of fire?

I say, if you're Latin

it's your night for Prep.

Ah, Metcalf, a change of plan.

- Could you possibly take Prep?

- Headmaster, please!

In the light of the scene

I just witnessed...

Headmaster, you've only just put

my name down. I should dearly hope...

A second chance, I believe you said,

Headmaster? That at Brookfield, er...

- Forgive me, I've already asked...

- Headmaster,

if the boys hear their behaviour

proved coercive...

Oh, very well. As you were.

- Metcalf.

- How do you do?

Hm. (Chuckles)

They put a pigeon in my desk

on my first day.

Said it was a homing pigeon.

Called it Friedrich.

I do know how to teach.

You have some hours before Prep.

Go out, out there under the sky.

Look around.

What is the saying? "Distance lends

enchantment to the view."

Go out, come back refreshed.

(Boy) Bravo!

- Bravo!

- Hard luck.

Seeking inspiration?

No, sir!

Henshaw, isn't it?

What are you doing?

Sir, a prefect gave me a ha'penny

to pay for an errand

and I've lost it, sir.

If I don't find it he'll thrash me.

Well, you should be more careful,

shouldn't you?

Henshaw?

Be more careful with that, hm?

Thank you, sir!

- Howzat!

- (Scattered applause)

- Chater. Cherry.

- Yes, sir.

- Clarke. Cochrane.

- Yes, sir.

- Colley. Copeland.

- Yes, sir.

- Deverill. Dexter.

- Yes, sir.

(Sniggering)

(Giggling)

Would the boy at the head of

the table behind me please stand up?

- Do you mean me, sir?

- I do, yes.

- What is your name?

- Colley, sir.

Colley?

Is not a "Colley" a dog?

(Boys sniggering)

When I was a boy

I had a dog of that breed.

His name was Rover.

Very well...Rover,

for slamming down your book twice

and denying other boys

their right to study,

you will stay behind, and in your

detention you will write 100 times,

"A dog will never behave like a boy

"but a boy

will sometimes behave like a dog."

- (Laughter)

- In Latin.

I shall be interested

in your translation.

Well now, Rover... Sit!

(Laughter)

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