American Graffiti Page #10

JOHN:

Don't count on it. I may surprise you any minute now.

MEL'S DRIVE-IN

John cruises around the lot until he finds a space among the rows

of dazzling cars. He pulls in and leans out to hit the intercom

button.

JOHN (into intercom)

One ten cent coke. Is ice extra? All right, ice.

CAROL:

Thanks for nothing.

She looks around, sitting up so maybe some of her friends will

see her in John's neat car.

CAROL:

Oh rats, I though some of my friends might be here.

JOHN:

Probably a couple of weeks past their bedtime.

CAROL:

Wait, there's Dee Dee. I hope she sees me.

JOHN:

Oh Sh*t, Dee Dee! A long line of cars coast past. Occasionally,

someone yells a greeting to John. The car hop brings the coke.

Then a couple, Al and Linda, come over. They lean in the window

smiling--John prays they don't see Carol. AL

Hiya, John. Say, do you think if I brought my Mopar by the shop

Monday you could spot weld the bumper bracket?

JOHN:

Have to be before noon.

AL:

Sure. Hey, have you met Linda?

JOHN:

No. Hi--ahh, this is my, ahh, cousin, Carol. I'm kinda

babysitting tonight.

CAROL:

Babysitting!!

She slugs John on the arm. John grabs her arm as she starts to

swing again.

JOHN:

Jesus--watchi it, will yuh? (smiling at Al) Been hittin' me all

night. Kids will be kids, you know.

She struggles to hit him and spills her coke all over the car. He

pushes her rather roughly against the door.

Watch out--damn it! Look what--why don't you grow up! (looking at

Al again) We don't get along too well. It's been like this--

CAROL:

You spastic creep!

She is about to really cry this time. She jumps out of the car

and runs off donw the street. John wipes his car out as Al and

Linda watch in amazement.

JOHN:

We don't get along too well. You know what cousins are like.

AL:

Yeah...well, I'll see ya on Monday before noon.

John mutters profanities to himself, but his anger subsides after

a few moments. He looks back in the direction Carol went. All he

can see are two Hell's Angels on choppers rolling in the same

direction. He looks a little concerned and starts the coupe.

CRUISING MAIN STREET--'32 YELLOW DEUCE COUPE

John roars along looking for her until he sees her walking

angrily along the sidewalk--being followed by a Ford full of

guys.

John passes Carol and the Ford and pulls over and stops just

ahead of them. Carol stops when she sees John. The Ford also

stops and the guys call out to her. She considers the situation a

moment, then runs and gets in with John. He pulls off and she

grins at him happily.

CAROL:

Hi cousin, how's your bod?

SCENIC LIQUOR STORE--STEVE'S '58 CHEVY

Terry pulls into the parking lot and stops. He looks up at the

flashing liquor store sign and considers his battle plan. "Maybe

Baby" by Buddy Holly is playing on the radio.

DEBBIE:

Do you have an ID?

TERRY:

No...hey, but no sweat. What'll it be? Beer, little wine?

DEBBIE:

If you could get some Old Harper, I'd give you a French kiss.

TERRY:

Old Harper, rrright! He gives her an OK sign with his fingers and

goes over to the store. He starts to enter, then stops and

thinks. He sees a man in a business suit approaching, and smiles.

TERRY:

Excuse me, sir, while you're in there--I mean, since you're going

in anyway, I wonder if--

MAN:

Yes, son?

TERRY:

Could you--sir--could you give me the time?

MAN (looking at his watch):Why sure, it's a quarter to twelve.

TERRY:

Great. Quarter to twelve. Thanks a lot.

The man regards him, Terry pretends to start off until the man

goes in. Terry pulls himself together as another man approaches,

or rather stumbles up, being older, scruffy and, essentially, a

bum.

TERRY:

Pardon me, sir, but I lost my I.D. in--in a flood and I'd like to

get some Old Harper, hard stuff. Would you mind buying a bottle

for me?

The bum is still trying to focus on Terry and smiles.

BUM:

Why certainly, I lost my wife, too--her name wasn't Idy, though,

and it wasn't in a flood--but I know what ya--

TERRY:

Thanks, here's enough for a pint.

The old man takes the money and falls into the store. Terry

watches and then waves to Debbie in the car that everything is

cool.

As he waits for the bum to come back out, the first man in the

suit exits. Terry smiles at him again.

TERRY:

Hi. Still quarter to twelve.

MAN:

Right-o. Night.

TERRY:

Night.

The man gets into the car and backs out. Terry goes over to the

window of the liquor store and looks to see how the wino's doing

with his booze. Terry sees the liquor store owner setting four

bottles of cheap wine on the counter.

TERRY (gesturing through the window from outside)

Hey, no. Not wine. Ssss--hey!

The owner turns and sees Terry waving. Terry ducks out of sight.

When he looks back again, Terry sees the old bum is gone! Terry

can't believe it. He finally enters the store.

INSIDE THE LIQUOR STORE

Terry tries to look very casual as he sidles up to the counter.

Country-Western music hums over the liquor in hi-fi.

TERRY (smiling at the owner)

Hi there--ah, say--was there an old man in here a minute ago?

OWNER:

Yeah. He went out the back.

Terry is destroyed.

You want something?

Terry looks at the man and the endless rows of liquor behind him.

TERRY:

Yeah--ah--let me have a Three Musketeers, ah, and a ball point

pen ther, a comp, a pint of Old Harper, couple of flashlight

batteries and some of this beef jerky.

The owner puts everything into a bag and starts to ring it up.

OWNER:

Okay, got an I.D. for the liquor?

TERRY:

A what? Oh, sure--

(feeling his pockets)

Oh nuts, I left it--I left it in the car.

OWNER:

Sorry, you'll have to get it before--

TERRY:

Well, I can't. I also ah, forgot the car.

The owner takes the liquor out of the bag and puts it back on the

shelf. Terry stands there. The owner takes the money from him and

gives him his change.

OUTSIDE THE LIQUOR STORE

Terry comes back to the Chevy with the bag full of junk. Debbie

smiles at him excitedly and scoots over to the window.

DEBBIE:

Hey, did ya get it? Ya get it, ya get it?

He hands her the bag.

You got it. You got it!

She goes through the bag and finds a comb and the batteries.

You didn't get it. Why didn't you get it?

TERRY:

Ah, well, I needed some things and I thought as long as I was in

there--look, Debbie, can you loan me a dollar?

DEBBIE:

What? Are you for real? Come on. Girls don't pay. Guys pay.

TERRY:

Yeah, well, see--I've only got a fifty and he doesn't have

change.

DEBBIE:

Well, I can't believe this...I really cannot believe this. Here.

She takes the money from a squeeze-open plastic change purse and

hands it to him. Terry smiles weakly and goes back to try his

luck again at the liquor store.

He stops in front of the door as a young guy with numerous

tattoos on his bulging arms approaches the liquor store. TERRY

Hi--excuse me. I was wondering--could you, ah--

GUY:

Buy you a bottle of booze. Yeah, I know. You lost your I.D. What

kind do you want?

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