Mr. Trask: I am left with no real witness. Mr. Willis’testimony is not only vague, it is unsubstantiated. The substance I was looking for Mr. Simms was to come from you.
Charlie Simms: I’m sorry.
Trask: I’m sorry to Mr. Simms, because you know what I’m going to do in this as much as I can’t punish Mr. Havemeyer, Mr. Potter or Mr. Jameson and I won’t punish Mr. Willis. He’s the only party to this incident who is still worthy of calling himself a Baird man. I’m going to recommend to the Disciplinary Committee that you be expelled, Mr. Simms. You are a cover-up artist and you are a liar.
Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade: But not a snitch.
Trask: Excuse me?
Slade: No, I don’t think I will.
Trask: Mr. Slade.
Slade: This is such a crock of shit!
Trask:Please watch your language, Mr. Slade. You are in the Baird school, not at barracks. Mr. Simms, I will give you one final opportunity to speak up.
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 sort of that we’re going to 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 going to reward George and destroy Charlie.
Trask: Are you finished, Mr. Slade?
Slade: No, I’m just getting warmed up. I don’t know who went to this place. William Howard Taft, Williams Jennings Bryant, 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’d better think again because I say you are killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills. As I came in here, I heard those words, “Cradle of leadership.” Well, when the bow 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. 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 going to make you proud one day. I promise you.
