Minha cena favorita do Sociedade dos Poetas Mortos. O professor Keating havia pedido uma composição aos alunos e a cena começa com Knox recitando a sua, que a termina com uma voz arrasada por acha-la horrivel. Keaing dá uma aula sobre poesia, e pergunta se alguem mais gostararia de ler...

Keating looks around. No one volunteers. Keating grins.

KEATING (CONT'D)
Look at Mr. Anderson. In such agony.
Step up, lad, and let's put you out of
your misery.

All eyes are on Todd. He is dying inside. He stands and walks slowly to the front of the class like a condemned man on his way to his execution.

KEATING (CONT'D)
Todd, have you prepared your poem?

Todd shakes his head no.

KEATING (CONT'D)
Mr. Anderson believes that everything he
has inside of him is worthless and
embarrassing. Correct, Todd? Isn't that
your fear?

Todd nods jerkedly yes.

KEATING (CONT'D)
Then today you will see that what is
inside of you is worth a great deal.

Keating strides to the blackboard. Rapidly, he writes:

"I SOUND MY BARBARIC YAWP? OVER THE ROOFTOPSOF THE WORLD.--
Walt Whitman

KEATING (CONT'D)
A yawp, for those who don't know, is a
loud cry or yell. Todd, I would like you
to give us a demonstration of a barbaric
yawp.

TODD
(barely audible)
A yawp?

KEATING
A barbaric yawp.

Keating pauses, then suddenly moves fiercely at Todd.

KEATING (CONT'D)
Good god, boy! Yell!

TODD
(frightened)
Yawp!

KEATING (CONT'D)
Again! Louder!

TODD
YAWP!

KEATING
LOUDER!

TODD
AHHHHHH!

KEATING
All right! Very good! There's a
barbarian in there after all!

Keating claps. The class claps too. Todd, red-faced, swells a bit.

KEATING (CONT'D)
Todd, there's a picture of Whitman over
the door. What does he remind you Of?
Quickly, Anderson, don't think about it.

TODD
A madman.

KEATING
A madman. Perhaps he was. What kind of
madman? Don't think! Answer.

TODD
A crazy madman.

KEATING
Use your imagination! First thing that
pops to your mind, even if it's
gibberish!

TODD
A... A sweaty-toothed madman.

KEATING
Now there's the poet speaking! Close
your eyes and think of the picture.
Describe what you see. NOW!

TODD
I... I close my eyes. His image floats
beside me.

KEATING
(prompting)
A sweaty-toothed madman

TODD
A sweaty-toothed madman with a stare
that pounds my brain.

KEATING
Excellent! Have him act. Give it
rhythm!

TODD
His hands reach out and choke me All the
time he mumbles slowly. Truth... Truth is
like a blanket that always leaves your
feet cold.

This brings chuckles from the class. This angers Todd.

KEATING
To hell with them, most about the
blanket!

Todd opens his eyes and addresses the class in defiant cadence.

TODD
Stretch it, pull it, it will never cover
any of us. Kick at it, beat at it, it
will never be enough-

KEATING
Don't stop!

TODD
(struggling, but getting it out)
From the moment we enter crying to the
moment we leave dying, It will cover
just your head as you wail and cry and
scream!

Todd stands still for a long time. Both he and the students have felt the magic or what has just taken place. Neil starts applauding. Others join in. Todd swells and, for the first time, there is a hint of confidence in him. The applause stops. Keating walks to Todd.

KEATING
Don't forget this.