很多经典电影是因‘演讲’而精彩,想和大家分享讨论一下这些经典精彩的演讲场面,包括演员的表演,演讲的内容,揭示的内涵,历史背景,导演手法,等等,当然还有妙语连珠,。。。。。。
电影‘JFK’, 刺杀肯尼迪
导演: 奥利弗•;斯通
演员: 凯文•;科斯特纳 凯文•;培根 汤米•;里•;琼斯 加里•;奥德曼 伊恩•;霍姆 Beata Pozniak 迈克尔•;罗克
电影最后的法庭辩论上,导演使用了近1个小时的篇幅表现律师JIM坚持正义同反方斗争的一段,最后KEVIN COSTNER的陈述绝对是经典中的经典。在这一段中,他引用了大量的名人明言,来加强自己的论点:
Kevin Costner引用了希特勒的一段话:谎话越说越大,就有越来越多的人相信它!
Hitleralways said "the bigger the lie, the morepeople will believe it."
Kevin Costner引用了一位不知名的英国诗人的话:
叛国投敌是不会有好下场的,因为如果是的话,就没有人把它叫做叛国了!
"Treason doth never prosper," wrote an English poet, "What's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."
Kevin Costner第三次引用了一位美国自然学家的话:
一个爱国者应该时刻准备着为保卫自己的国家而同这个国家的政府做斗争!
An American naturalist wrote, "a patriot must always be ready to defend his country against its government."
最后一次他引用了JFK本人的明言:不要问你的国家能够为你做什么,问问你自己能够为自己的祖国做些什么!
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
Kevin Costner这一段的表演堪称典范之作,一招一式都力度十足极具张力,感情丰富极度煽情,义正言辞极具说服力,正义凛然措辞严谨证据确凿陈述清晰。 l
OLIVER STONE一向敢于挑战政治题材和争议焦点,这部JFK绝对是历史经典,重拍的可能几乎不存在,因为太完美了。这个世纪奇案恐怕在很长时间里还会被人们津津乐道,然而,恐怕没有后人能够拍出超越这一部了。
这一段也非常精彩:
我们都成了哈姆雷特,凶手父亲的子民,而凶手仍然拥有皇帝宝座。JFK的在天之灵要求我们去寻找那个秘密的凶手,他追问我们这些问题:我们的宪法到底是依据什么建立的?我们的公民权利在哪里?我们的民主的未来将向何处去?难道我们所谓的民主就是这样的一个法律机制下可以随便暗杀我们的总统吗?我感觉到我们民主的机器在发抖,而在真相大白之前,还要有多少政治谋杀要被贴上心脏病突发,癌症,自杀,车祸,飞机失事和吸毒过量的标签?
We have all become Hamlets in our country - children of a slain father- leader whose killers still possess the throne. The ghost of John F. Kennedy confronts us with the secret murder at the heart of the American dream. He forces on us the appalling questions: Of what is our Constitution made? What is our citizenship,and more, our lives worth? What is the future of a democracy where a President can be assassinated under conspicuously suspicious circumstances while the machinery of legal action scarcely trembles? How many political murders, disguised as heart attacks, cancer, suicides, airplane and car crashes, drug overdoses will occur before they are exposed for what they are?
在讲到这一段的时候,大法官都不禁瘫倒在椅子里长叹了一口气。
整个‘演讲’20分钟令人热血沸腾的同时又深深为JFK感到惋惜,为政治的丑恶感到不啻,为COSTNER的大义凛然感到振奋。 这段在我的经典电影‘演讲’排行中名列第一。
第二名 中文名称:七宗罪
英文名称:Se7en
别名:火线追缉令
发行时间:1995年09月22日
电影导演:大卫•;芬奇 David Fincher
电影演员:布拉德•;皮特 Brad Pitt
摩根•;弗里曼 Morgan Freeman
凯文•;斯帕西 Kevin Spacey
ker
上 映: 1995年09月22日 ( 加拿大 )
7宗罪包括:「暴食」、「贪婪」、「懒惰」、「嫉妒」、「骄傲」、「愤怒」和l 【色欲】。Gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride, and lust。 出现在但丁的‘神 曲’当中。 结尾处,暴徒落网后,两位警员随同他一起去公干。这之前共发生了‘4 了‘4个人’。包括:1.暴食,第一个被发现的大胖子
2.懒惰,毒贩子3.贪婪,律师4.色欲,妓女
途中,暴徒同MILLS之间的争论是犯罪片中的经典之作,也是所有题材电影中经典的‘演说’篇章。 l
电影的精彩在此之前已经是跌宕起伏,扣人心弦。而包括警员本人和观众也不知道暴徒要带他们去做什么,将会发生什么。这时,
MILLS问:我们不会是就去挖出两具尸体吧?那可不算。。。。。。震惊,也部足以让你登上报纸头版。
暴徒回答到:如果想要引起别人的注意,仅仅拍拍人家的肩膀是不够的,你得抡圆了给他脑袋上来一棒子,这样,你才能得到别人的注意。
这里大卫芬奇为观众留下了一个大大的伏笔,为那‘抡圆了的一棒子’打过来的时候做了最好的铺垫。 暴徒说:我实在是非常想看到你发现结果时的场面。MILLS说:对,我一定会始终留在你身边,直到所有的事情都水落石出,真不想错过每个细节。
暴徒说:你不会的。。。。,你什么都不会落下。 KEVIN SPACY在说这一句时的表情,神态,眼神,目光中那些复杂的狡诈,渴望,兴奋,甚至是迫不及待的幸灾乐祸,堪称表演的顶峰。他的表演是那么的轻描淡写,但是所传达出的信息几乎令人毛骨悚然。 剧本原文:
MILLS
We're not just going to pick up two more
bodies, are we, Johnny? That wouldn't
be... shocking enough. Wouldn't keep you
on the front page of the newspapers. JOHN DOE
Wanting people to pay attention, you can't
just tap them on the shoulder. You have to
hit them in the head with a sledgehammer.
Then, you have their strict attention. I can't wait for you to see. I can't
wait...
(pause, looks to Mills)
It's really going to be something. MILLS
Well, I'll be standing beside you the
whole time, so you be sure to let me know
when this whole, complete reality thing is
done. Wouldn't want to miss it. JOHN DOE
Oh, don't worry. You won't... INT, POLICE HELICOPTER -- DAY The helicopter is in flight above the city. California is
strapped in, hanging out the door. He holds a high powered
automatic rifle, wears goggles and a helmet/headset. JOHN DOE (v.o.)
(through headset)
... you won't miss a thing.
l
最经典的台词,最经典的电影对白,最经典的犯罪理论探讨,最经典的表演就出现在这一段里:
MILLS:你只不过是杀了一些无辜的人而已。。。。。
KEVIN:无辜?你不觉得可笑吗?看看我杀的那些人:一个令人作呕连站都站不稳的人,一个如果你在街上碰见就一定会和朋友们一起取笑他的人,一个在你吃饭的时候一见到就再也无法继续下咽的人。 之后我选择了一个律师,你们难道不应该为我宰了他而暗自高兴吗?他是一个靠出卖灵魂和良知来赚钱的人,是一个让强奸犯和杀人犯逍遥法外的人。。。。。。。
一个女人,外表漂亮而内心已经丑恶的连自己都没勇气继续活下去的女人。还有毒贩,一个搞鸡奸的毒贩子。还有,别忘了那个到处传播性病的妓女,在一个什么样的世界里你能够把他们当成是‘无辜者’?
这正是关键,你在街上的每个角落每个家庭,每天都见到不可宽恕的恶行发生,而我们都只选择了忍受。因为这太普通了,太无足轻重了,每天早上,中午,晚上我们司空见惯,所以我们就忍受了。我不能再忍了,我是在树立一个榜样,当然会有很多对我的不解,猜疑,接踵而至。
剧本原文:
MILLS
You only killed a bunch of innocent people
so you could get your rocks off. That's
all. JOHN DOE
Innocent? Is that supposed to be funny?
Look at the people I killed. An obese man,
a disgusting man who could barely stand
up... who if you saw him on the street,
you'd point so your friends could mock him
along with you. Who if you saw him while
you were eating, you wouldn't be able to
finish your meal. After him I picked the
lawyer. And, you both must have been
secretly thanking me for that one. This
was a man who dedicated his life to making
money by lying with every breath he could
muster... to keeping rapists and murderers
on the streets. 。。。。。。。。。 JOHN DOE
(ignoring, louder)
A woman... so ugly on the inside that she
couldn't bare to go on living if she
couldn't be beautiful on the outside. A
drug dealer... a drug dealing pederast,
actually.
(laughs at that one)
And, don't forget the disease spreading
whore. Only in a world this shitty could
you even try to say these were innocent
people and keep a straight face.
(getting worked up)
That's the point. You see a deadly sin on
almost every street corner, and in every
home, literally. And we tolerate it.
Because it's common, it seems trivial, and
we tolerate, all day long, morning, noon
and night. Not anymore. I'm setting the
example, and it's going to be puzzled over
and studied and followed, from now on.
MILLS得知妻子被害后怒不可遏,但是他握枪的手还能够被自己支配,这时KEVIN说:l
我想告诉你,我希望我能够象你那样生活,。。。。。。你听到我跟你说吗?我想让你知道我是多么羡慕你还有你的漂亮老婆TRACY。今天早上你出门后,我去拜访了你家。。。。。。我想扮演一把丈夫的角色,尝试普通人的生活,但是没有成功,所以我就带走了一件纪念品-TRACY漂亮的头。因为我嫉妒你们正常的生活,所以嫉妒是我的罪恶。TRACY让我饶她还有她肚子里的孩子的命。。。。。。 说到这里的时候,镜头里是MILLS惊诧痛苦的表情,而跪在地上的KEVIN这时才发现原来MILLS并不知道妻子已经怀孕,所以他转过头对着MILLS微笑地说:哦,原来你还不知道呀!
这是电影史上最经典的一句台词之一,我个人认为,KEVIN SPACY的表演很难再被超越,他那极负个性化的表情独树一帜,他嘴角的那一丝微笑,实在是没有任何人能够代替,他的语气,镇定自若的神态,眼光中所充满的神往的内涵,把人物刻画得淋漓尽致,胜过千言万语。 ;l
剧本原文:
JOHN DOE
(to Mills)
I want you to know, I wish I could have
lived like you do. 。。。。。。 JOHN DOE
Are you listening to me, Detective Mills?
I'm trying to tell you how much I admire
you... and your pretty wife Tracy. 。。。。。。
JOHN DOE
I visited your home this morning, after you
left. Mills is filled with an aching terror. JOHN DOE
I tried to play husband... tried to taste
the life of a simple man, but it didn't
work out. So, I took a souvenir.
JOHN DOE
Her pretty head.
JOHN DOE
Because I envy your normal life. Envy is
my sin. JOHN DOE
She begged for her life, and for the life
of your baby inside her. Mills' face fills with confusion -- then a wave of horror. Doe's eyes register shock. JOHN DOE
You didn't know.
MILLS扣动扳机之后,剩下的3宗罪也全部完成:l
骄傲-TRACY
嫉妒-KEVIN SPACY
愤怒-Mills自己(代表他胎死腹中的儿子)
大卫芬奇本来要拍一部片子向Morgan Freeman致敬,没想到被BRADl PITT抢尽了风头,本来Pitt应该是Freeman的陪衬,可是随着电影的发展,Pitt的光芒逐渐盖过了Freeman,而老前辈也甘愿捧红这位年轻人。KEVIN SPACY在当时就更是不值一提的小演员,他的大红大紫还是在2000年的‘American Beauty’之后,然而他在电影里仅仅30分钟左右的表演却令所有观众折服。
电影里Kevin同Mills之间的对话,和Kevin言辞凿凿的演讲在我的排行中名列第二。
|
片 名:马尔克姆X / 英文:Malcolm X / 台译:黑潮-麦尔坎X / 其他:马尔克姆X
◆ 导 演:Spike Lee
◆ 主 演:丹泽尔•;华盛顿(Denzel Washington) Angela Bassett
◆ 类 型:剧情(Drama)
◆ 国家地区:USA
◆ 发行公司:华纳(Warner Bros.)
◆ 首映日期:1992年11月18日
◆
◆ 片 长:194 分钟
马尔科姆X是美国历史上举足轻重的黑人民权运动领袖,他和马丁路德金在同一时代,然而他的信仰,价值观和民权运动的方式同马丁路德金有着天壤之别,他更趋向暴力和抵制白人的政权统治,号召把白人和黑人完全割裂开,分割开,互不相扰。 他的这种理念和信仰受到很多黑人的欢迎和支持,特别是他所属和倡导的黑色穆斯林教一派。但是他的这种做法令当权者非常不满,这些当权者当中也包括黑色穆斯林教派内部的人。
最终,马尔科姆在一次黑人社区的集会上发表演讲时,被枪手杀害。 马尔科姆具有传奇的一生,不仅仅是他从一个游手好闲,浪荡不羁的犯罪少年,成为万人瞩目的黑人民权领袖。他的领导和演讲才华也充满了他个人的魅力和无比的力量。
黑人导演Spike Lee一向关注社会政治和黑人问题,他在1992年指导的这部电影,因为非常真实的表现了马尔科姆这位历史人物和他所领导的那一场运动,在美国上了黑名单,虽然没有被禁映,但还是受到了不公正的待遇。 丹泽华盛顿扮演的马尔科姆堪称人物传记题材电影中的典范之作,因为当年的另一部优秀作品‘闻香识女人’当中Al Pacino的精彩演出,抢走了本来应该属于他的当年奥斯卡影帝。当然还有另外一层因素,丹泽华盛顿自己是黑人!
丹泽华盛顿塑造的马尔科姆的形象同真实的历史人物在外形上就惊人的相似,经过大量的研究和走访,华盛顿形神兼备地成功塑造了这位颇受争议的历史人物。 电影中有大量的演讲场面,场场精彩,无论是剧本语言,表演,拍摄手法都无不精彩绝伦振奋人心,其中共有五段最为精彩的:
1.马尔科姆出狱后逐渐成为新领袖时,第一次在公众集会上的演讲
2.马尔科姆在黑人穆斯林大会上的演讲
3.马尔科姆接受电视台采访时同主持人和反方的答辩
4.马尔科姆在哈佛法学院的演讲
5.马尔科姆第二次在黑人穆斯林大会上的演讲 这部电影在我的演讲电影排行中名列第三。
第四段,马尔科姆应邀来到哈佛大学法学院对师生的演讲。在这段演讲中,马尔科姆面对哈佛法学院的师生声情并茂,言简意赅,感情丰富自然,每一个字,每一段话都发自肺腑,丹泽华盛顿的表演稳定实在,话语铿锵有力,字字掷地有声:
‘我的高中是悲剧,大学是在哈林区街头度过,在监狱里获得硕士学位,看看窗子外面,我的生活充满了犯罪。我象个野兽一样生活。如果不是伟大的墨罕墨德,我不是疯了就早死了。墨罕墨德是在拯救我们到上帝身边,所以上帝能够永远在我们的身边帮助我们去战斗。因此,黑人能够远离毒品,不使用,不贩卖,黑人能够不通奸,能够做真正的男人!为自己的家庭的生活而努力,因此家庭会尊重你。他们会骄傲地说:那是我的父亲。女人会骄傲地说:那是我的丈夫。父亲只代表了你照顾一群孩子,你能够生小孩并不代表你就是一个好父亲。每个人都有生儿育女的能力。但不是每个人都能照顾好自己的子女给他们良好的教育。 每个人都能出去搞个女人回来,但并不说明你能照顾好那个女人, 重要的是我们必须明白一个道理,那就是:责任!’
剧本原文:
161 INT. HARVARD LAW SCHOOL - DAY Speaking to a packed STUDENT AUDIENCE. MALCOLM
...My high school was the black ghetto of
Roxbury. My college was the streets of Harlem,
and I took my masters in prison. If you look
out the window-- 161A SHOT MALCOLM'S OLD GANG HANGOUT MALCOLM'S VOICE
--you can see my burglary hangout. I lived
like an animal. Had it not been for the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad I would surely be in
an insane asylum or dead. ANGLE - The audience carefully listening. MALCOLM
Mr. Muhammad is trying to get us on God's side,
so God will be on our side to help us fight our
battles. When Negroes stop getting drunk, stop
being addicted to drugs, stop fornicating and
committing adultery. When we get off the
welfare, then we'll be MEN. Earn what you need
for your family, then your family respects you.
They'll be proud to say "That's my father."
She's proud to say "That's my husband..."
Father means you're taking care of those
children. Just 'cause you made them that don't
mean you're a father. Anybody can make a baby,
but anybody can't take care of them. Anyone can
go and get a woman but anybody can't take care
of a woman. There is another word for it, it called responsibility.
第一段演讲的剧本原文:
MALCOLM
I must emphasize at the outstart, that the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad is not a politician,
so I'm not here this afternoon as a Republican,
nor a Democrat, not as a Mason nor an Elk, not
as a Christian nor a Jew, not as a Catholic nor
a Protestant, not as a Baptist nor a Methodist,
not even as an American. For if I was an
American the problem that confronts our people
today would not exist. So I stand here as what
I was when I was born: A BLACK MAN! CROWD REACTIONS MALCOLM (contd)
Before there were any such things as Democrats
or Republicans, we were black. Before there
were any such things as Masons or Elks, we
were black. Before there were any such things
as Jews or Christians, we were black people. In
fact long before there was ever any such place
as America, we were black people... And after
America has long passed from the scene there
will still be BLACK PEOPLE.
这个电影在美国一度禁映,我千方百计搞到原著小说,电影则看过50遍以上,每次都会受到感动。Danzel Washington的演出实在是无与伦比,当年碰上Al Pacino的“闻香识女人”,被抢走了影帝,Danzel可谓生不逢时。有英文基础,并喜欢原文电影的影迷一定不要错过这个电影。
Spike Lee也凭借本片成为好莱坞一支强劲的力量,从此走上一线导演的行列。
片名: 闻香识女人
导 演: 马丁•贝斯特 Martin Brest
主 演: 阿尔•帕西诺 Al Pacino 加布里埃尔•安瓦 Gabrielle Anwar 菲利普•塞莫尔•霍夫曼 Philip Seymour Hoffman 克里斯•奥唐纳 Chris O'Donnell William Beckwith Gene Canfield Peter Carew 弗朗西斯•康罗伊 Frances Conroy
上 映: 1992年12月23日 ( 美国 )
地 区: 美国 ( 拍摄地 )
对 白: 英语
颜 色: 彩色
时 长: 157 分钟
类 型: 剧情 喜剧
电影的精彩自不必多言,这样的电影10年出一部,一部反复能够看上10年。Al Pacino 的风采在本片中发挥得淋漓尽致,他的表演炉火纯青,魅力能够打动所有年龄段女人的心,威风令所有男人倒地自愧不如。
电影最精彩的有三段:
1. Tango
2. Ferrari
3. Debate
当然各有各的精彩。
个人最欣赏最后在学校讲堂上Pacino的精彩演出,全局的高潮。而高潮的高潮则出现在学校纪律委员会宣布处理结果时,Pacino的那一句:HU AHH。。。!
电影的巧妙在于始终把Sims置于非常弱势的地位,象一个受气包一样;而电影直到最后的学校辩论会之前,并没有把Pacino打扮成救世主或一个强者的形象,相反他那桀骜不逊,不修边幅,甚至是玩世不恭,喜怒无常的个人性格都引领观众向相反的方向去。
然而就是这样的一个‘小可怜’和这样的一个‘老顽童’组成一对完美的搭档,达到了出人意料的强烈的戏剧效果。
在学校礼堂里,Pacino的发言字斟句酌,振聋发聩,而他的表演几乎达到了化境,至臻完美,他的一言一行,一举一动都完全融入了当时的环境和背景,整个过程几乎无可挑剔。
他的发言几乎字字句句都引人深思,发人深省,同时,又不失他个性中豪爽刚烈的一面,极具煽动力。
象我这样‘半瓶子晃荡’的英文水平,从中文字幕到英文字幕到摆脱字幕,反复学习观赏了至少50遍之后,对Pacino话语中的深刻内涵,他讲话的语气的抑扬顿挫,使用的词汇的深意,感觉一遍比一遍理解的更深一些,而几乎每次又都能学到新的东西。单纯从英文角度出发,写剧本的人不一定是大文豪,但是一定是具有丰富人生阅历和极高文学水平的人。
这部片子在我的经典电影演讲排行中名列第四。
我个人理解的译文:
- Sims先生不需要被挂上‘还称得上是贝尔人’的标签。这算个屁!你们到底是要标榜什么?‘哥们儿,告诉同学们,老实点儿,谁刺儿头,我们就收拾谁!’先生们,当大难临头的时候,有人逃跑,有人站出来顶。现在查理站了出来,面对熊熊的烈火,而乔治,躲在老爸的保护伞下。你们要怎么做呢?你们要奖励乔治,毁掉查理。
- 您说完了吗,Slade先生?
- 我才刚刚热了身。我不管谁从这所学校毕业的,William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryant , William Tell, 爱谁谁,他们的精神全完了,如果曾经有过的话。全让你们给毁了。你们在制造懦夫的乐园,制造一帮可耻的告密者。要是你们认为这样才能把这些小孩子培养成男子汉,你们最好三思。我觉得你们是在从这些孩子们身上,毁掉你们自己标榜的这所学校的所谓的精神。
真够丢人的!你们上演了一场什么样的闹剧呀!座在我边上的这个孩子,他是唯一值得为自己的行为感到骄傲的,只有这个孩子的灵魂是完整的,是不能够讨价还价的。你知道我怎么知道的吗?这儿有人出价要买,查理没卖,我可不想把这个人的名字说出来。
-先生,你闹得太不象话了!
- 不象话?你根本就不知道什么叫‘不象话’,Trask先生,要不是我太老了,太烦了,太瞎了,我告诉你什么叫‘不象话’,倒退5年,我拿火焰喷射器‘突突’了你们这儿!‘不象话’?你以为你跟谁说话呢?我是见过市面的,我曾经能够看见,也确实看见了,象他们这样的孩子们,比他们还小的孩子们,腿断,胳膊折,但是并不象你们这儿的孩子精神残了,精神有假肢能复原吗?你以为你们只不过是欺负一个孩子,把他打的夹起尾巴逃回哦勒岗州就算了,我告诉你,你们是在枪毙他的灵魂!为什么?就为了‘贝尔人’的标签?你们伤了这个孩子,你们就都是贝尔垃圾,有谁算谁!哈里,几米,特兰特,不管你们在哪儿,X你大爷的!
- 请坐下,Slade先生
- 我还没说完呢!我刚进来的时候听见‘领导者的摇篮’,告诉你们,树干折了,摇篮就掉下来了,它已经掉下来了。创造领导,小心点儿,你们创造的是什么样的领导。查理今天的表现到底是好是坏我不知道,我也不是法官,但是我能够告诉你们,他不会靠出卖朋友来换取自己的前途。这个,朋友,这叫仗义,勇气。这才是领导应该具备的素质。
每次当我面对自己人生的十字路口,我都知道哪边是正确的路,但是我从来不走,不走正道儿为什么?还是走下坡路容易呀!现在轮到查理来选择,他正面对他人生的十字路口,他选择了正确的路,那是正经八百正大光明的路,让他走下去吧,你们掌握着这个孩子的前途,委员们,那是对一个人非常重要的前途,相信我,别毁了它,保护它,拥抱它。早晚有一天你们会为今天的所作所为感到骄傲和自豪。我向你们保证。
剧本原文:
Frank:
Mr. Simms doesn't want it. He doesn't need to be labeled...Still worthy of being a Baird man." What the hell is that ? What is your motto here ?
"Boys, inform on your classmates, save your hide; anything short of that, we're gonna burn you at the stake" ? Well, gentlemen, when the shit hits the fan, some guys run... and some guys stay. Here's Charlie facin' the fire, and there's George... hidin' in big daddy's pocket. And what are you doin' ? You're gonna reward George... and destroy Charlie.
-Are you finished, Mr. Slade ?
-No, I'm just gettin' warmed up. I don't know who went to this place. William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryant, William Tell, whoever. Their spirit is dead, if they ever had one. It's gone. You're buildin' a rat ship here, a vessel for seagoin' snitches. And if you think you're
preparin' these minnows for manhood, you better think again, because I say you are killin' the very spirit... this institution proclaims it instills. What a sham. What kind of a show are you guys puttin' on here today ? I mean, the only class in this act is sittin' next to me. I'm here to tell you this boy's soul is intact. It's non-negotiable. You know how I know ? Someone here, and I'm not gonna say who, offered to buy it.
- Only Charlie here wasn't sellin'.
- Sir, you're out of order.
Ishow you out of order. You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask.
I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, too fxxkin' blind.
If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take...a flamethrower
to this place ! Out of order ? Who the hell you think you're talkin' to ?
I've been around, you know ? There was a time I could see. And I have seen. Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there is nothin' like the sight... of an amputated spirit.
There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sendin' this splendid foot soldier... back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are... executin' his soul! And why? Because he's not
a Baird man. Baird men. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums,
the lot of you. And, Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there,
fxxk you too !
- Stand down, Mr. Slade !
- I'm not finished. As I came in here, I heard those words:"cradle of leadership." Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and it has fallen here. It has fallen. Makers of men,creators of leaders.Be careful what kind of leaders You're producin' here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today... is right or wrong; I'm not a judge or jury.
But I can tell you this: he won't sell anybody out...to buy his future !
And that, my friends, is called integrity. That's called courage. Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it. You know why? It was too damn hard. Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle... that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee. It's a valuable future, believe me. Don't destroy it. Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make you proud one day, I promise you.