Inspiration on Film

3. Col. Frank Slade's Speech

Inspiration on Film
Compiled by Fox-Trot-9

3. Col. Frank Slade's Speech
From Scent of a Woman (1992)
Delivered by Al Pacino

Mr. Trask: I'm going to recommend to the disciplinary committee... that you be expelled, Mr. Simms. You are a coverup artist and you are a liar.

Col. Frank Slade: But not a snitch!

Mr. Trask: Excuse me?

Col. Frank Slade: No, I don't think I will.

Mr. Trask: Mr. Slade...

Col. Frank Slade: This is such a crock of shit!

Mr. Trask: Please watch your language, Mr. Slade. You are in the Baird School, not a barracks. Now, Mr. Simms, I will give you one final opportunity to speak up—

Col. Frank Slade: 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, facing the fire, and there's George—hiding in Big Daddy's pocket. And what are you doing? You're gonna reward George, and destroy Charlie.

Mr. Trask: Are you finished, Mr. Slade?

Col. Frank Slade: No, I'm just gettin' warmed up. I don't know who went to this place—William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryan, William Tell, whoever. Their spirit is dead; if they ever had one, it's gone. You're building a rat ship here—a vessel for sea-going snitches. And if you think you're preparing these minnows for manhood, you better think again. Because I say you are killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills! What a sham! What kind of show are you guys puttin' on here today? I mean, the only class in this act is sittin' next to me. And I'm here to tell you, this boy's soul is intact. It is non-negotiable. You know how I know? Because someone here, I'm not gonna say who, offered to buy it. Only Charlie here wasn't selling.

Mr.Trask: Sir, you are out of order!

Col. Frank Slade: Out of order—I'll show 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 and I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a flame-thrower to this place! Out of order? Who the hell you think you're talking 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 nothing' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is... no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot-soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are executing his soul! And why? Because he's not a "Baird man." Baird men—you hurt this boy, you're going to be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there—fuck you, too!

Mr. Trask: Stand down, Mr. Slade!

Col. Frank 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 producing 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. [pause] Now 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.

(To be continued...)

A/N: To this day, I've never seen the whole movie... ( O_O ) It's sad, I know. I've only watched the last part of it, which is when Frank gave this awesome speech... I actually saw this scene in my Communications class... It was pure awesomeness... ( ^_^ )