Flowers for Algernon

I want to be a dancer.

I want to be a ballerina, and dance on my toes.

I wanna drive an 18 wheeler with a load

of eggs in the back.

And I want to drive fast, on the road with lots of bumps.

And when I get to where I'm going,

I'm gonna open up the back, and none of them eggs

would be broken.

And then my dad would be proud, and Miss Kinian

will be pleased.

Then-- then I could take out girls,

and they wouldn't even care about my damn legs,

or my damn head, because I would be a big shot!

I want to learn.

I think Charlie's the school's best candidate.

Hey, Charlie!

Hurry up with that flour!

I'm coming, Ollie!

Tony, how many bags?

Hey, Charlie, do me a favor.

Well, just a sec.

I gotta give this flour to Oliver.

Well, I only need you for a second, Charlie.

Hey, Frankie, give me a hand.

I need you to pick up that bread pan.

It dropped on the floor.

Just let me put these bags down.

Hey, Mr. Donner always told you not

to carry more than you're able.

If you think you can handle that load,

surely you can pick up a bread pan.

Hey, Charlie!

I need the flour!

Just a sec.

Come on, Charlie.

OK, Gimpy.

Yeah, go for it.

Go for it.

Here we go.

That's it.

Come on.

That's it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Come on, Charlie.

Come on.

Oh!

Yes!

Yeah!

What did I tell ya, Charlie?

You're beautiful, Charlie.

Boy, I sure pulled a Charlie Gordon.

Oh, you sure did.

You guys.

Mornin'.

Hey, Charlie.

How's it going? - Going good.

- Work OK? - Aw, yeah.

Thank you.

Another beautiful day, huh, Charlie?

- Yeah. - Come here, you.

I have to go. Come on.

No, seriously.

No, no, you have to stay.

Come on, Billy.

Come on.

Just hold me.

I've got something better than breakfast.

OK, class, we'll see you tomorrow.

We're going to the planetarium, so don't

forget to pack a lunch.

Bernice, you forgot last time.

I'm going now.

Bye!

Bye.

Bye.

Here's everything for you.

I'm sorry.

Bye, Miss Kinian.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye!

See ya.

Charlie, can I see you for a moment?

Bye.

I'll see you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

I know I forgot to pack a lunch last time,

but this time I'll bring some day old bread from the bakery,

and everybody can have a sandwich!

That's sweet of you, Charlie, but that's not what

I want to talk to you about.

Well, don't worry.

It's good.

Sit down.

Charlie, do you remember the other day when that man,

Doctor Strauss, came to visit?

He was asking people questions?

That's right.

And the reason he was asking questions

was because he's looking for someone to do an experiment.

What kind of experiment?

Well, it involves an operation,

and a lot of things even I don't understand--

but it's very safe, and it's worked very well before,

except it only worked on laboratory animals.

Animals?

This time Dr. Strauss has permission

to try it on a human being.

And if it succeeds, it can make that human being very smart.

Dr. Strauss wants to do the experiment to me?

Maybe.

We don't know yet.

He has to do some more tests.

But he was very impressed with you the other day.

I gave the right answers?

Yes, you did.

Try not to get your hopes up.

There are other people that he's interviewing,

and we still have to get permission from your mother.

Charlie, what is it?

She won't even see me.

She won't have to see you.

She just has to sign a paper.

And maybe after the operation, she'll want to see you.

You'll be famous.

Your picture will be in all the papers.

I don't want to be famous.

I just want to be a genius.

Why?

So I can have lots of friends who will like me.

So I can make my mother be proud.

Now, I want you to take a look at this card, Charlie.

What do you see on this card?

People see all kinds of things in these ink blots.

I don't see nothing.

Sure you do.

Take a good, hard look.

Maybe I should get some glasses, Burt.

No Charlie.

I mean, tell me what it makes you think of.

It makes me think of someone spilled some black paint.

Yeah.

But-- what's in the black paint?

People say it reminds them of things.

They see pictures.

Oh. Yeah.

I see.

What do you see?

Pictures of black paint.

You know what this is, Charlie?

What?

A maze.

- Amazed. - No.

A maze.

You know, like-- zzt.

Zzt.

And-- anyway, look.

Now, I'm going to give you this magic wand.

Hold on, hold on.

Let me show you first.

And I want you to use it-- start here at the beginning, OK?

And use the wand to make a path through the maze,

just like this.

Now, you see that little box at the end, over there?

That says finish?

That's where you want to get to, all right?

Now, if you go off track, you'll probably get a little zap.

It's not going to hurt you, or anything.

I'll just lead you in the right direction, OK?

Hold on.

Ready?

And-- go.

Ow!

Ow!

I'm not very good at tests, Burt.

That's OK, Charlie.

This isn't a test.

What is it, then?

It's a game.

How come it's not fun, Burt?

Ow!

I'm sorry, Burt.

It's too hot. - Hey, that's all right.

Don't worry about it.

You did fine.

I thought I could do it, too.

I was feeling lucky, see?

I had my lucky penny, and my rabbit's foot.

I don't think anybody can win this game, Burt.

You know what, Charlie?

You're right.

It is hard.

But I'll let you in on a little secret.

I know a fellow who can win. You want to see him?

- Uh-huh. - All right.

Close your eyes.

It's-- it's dark, Burt.

Yeah.

OK, open.