American Graffiti Page #12

JOE:

This is going to take some thinking. You better come with us

maybe. (putting his arm around Curt) Go riding with the

Pharoahs...

CURT:

Well, I don't think I can--I gotta-

JOE:

I know just how ya feel.

Joe leads Curt gently but forcibly toward an incredible maroon

'51 Merc taht's been lowered and chopped so that the windows are

like ominous slits and the whole machine has a submarine quality.

Joe opens the door and Curt slides into the white fluffy

interior. In the small back window, a metal plaque reads

"PHAROAHS."

The third member of the gang is Carlos, a short little kid about

fifteen years old. He appears tougher than the rest with a

cigarette dangling from his mouth. Joe heads for the driver's

side and Ants and Carlos both go for the front passenger door.

CARLOS:

Shotgun!

ANTS:

No, I called it!

CARLOS:

When?

ANTS:

Before we picked you up.

CARLOS:

You can't call it for the whole night, man. I got it now. Get in

the back.

Carlos gives Ants a hard look and Ants backs down and climbs in

the back with Curt. The Pharoah's Mercury roars out from the

curb.

CRUISING MAIN STREET--PHAROAHS' '51 MERCURY

The radio blares "Ain't that a Shame?" as Curt sits in the back

seat of the car looking very nervous. He eyes the three hoods

cautiously. They are sitting super low, their eyes just visible

over the windows.

Then, Curt happens to look around. He does a double take. Through

the narrow window he sees the Thunderbird passing in the opposite

direction. Curt swivels and watches through the back window as

the T-bird disappears around a corner. Then, he shakes his head.

Of all the times to be trapped with the Pharoahs.

On the radio the Wolfman is giving a phone operator a bad time

and the Pharoahs are chuckling.

As the Wolfman continues on the radio, the cars pass though the

night like a metallic ballet. The Pharoahs' Mercury (with Curt

aboard) passes Laurie's Edsel...

Inside the Edsel, Steve is driving. He puts his arm around Laure

and she leans her head on his shoulder.

As the Edsel cruises by in one direction, John Milner's '32 Ford

coupe rumbles by on the other side of the street.

INSIDE THE DEUCE COUPE

Carol is laughing like mad as the Wolfman continues. Even John

has to chuckle at the mad D.J.'s raspy patter.

WOLFMAN (voice over)

Who is this on the Wolfman telephone?

OPERATOR (voice over)

Hello, Collect...

WOLFMAN:

Pardon me. Your name is Colette?

OPERATOR:

Yes. Collect Call.

WOLFMAN:

Your name is Colette Call?

OPERATOR:

Sir, this is the Operator.

WOLFMAN:

Are you French, Operator?

OPERATOR:

This is a collect call for Wolfman Jack.

WOLFMAN:

I...I love you, Operator.

OPERATOR:

Is this Wolfman Jack?

WOLFMAN:

Is Floyd there?

OPERATOR:

It's for a Wolfman...Jack...

Carol looks over at John and shakes her head.

CAROL:

I just love listening to the Wolfman. My Mom won't let me at

home. Because he's a Negro, I think...anyway, he's terrific. Do

you know that he just broadcasts from a plane that flies around

in circles all the time? Do you think that's true?

INSIDE STEVE'S '58 CHEVY

Terry drives on through the wonderful night--a blonde sitting

next to him, he's feeling very bitchin'. He and Debbie are also

mesmerized by the Wolfman.

WOLFMAN(voice over)

Floyd, I love you, Floyd. Is this you, Floyd? I cannot look on

thee, love took my hand...and smiling did reply, who made the

eyes but I. Floyd, reach out and touch my soul.

INSIDE THE PHAROAHS' '51 MERCURY

Even Curt has to laugh at the Wolfman--despite his situation.

Little Carlos sits in the front seat and looks over at Joe who's

driving.

OPERATOR (voice over)

Your party's ready, sir.

WOLFMAN:

You mean Floyd? Hello, is this Floyd?

VOICE (over)

Hello, is this Matilda?

WOLFMAN:

No, it ain't honey--bye!

CARLOS:

You tell her, Wolfman. He's my man. When I graduate, I'm gonna be

a Wolfman. Hey, you know he broadcasts out of Mexico someplace?

JOE:

No, he don't. I seen the station right outside of town.

CARLOS:

That's just a clearing station, man. So he can fool the cops. He

blasts that thing all the way around the world. It's against the

law, man.

In the back seat, Ants nods in agreement.

ANTS:

Ah, man--they'll never catch the Wolfman.

Then Ants' nose starts twitching and he looks over at Curt

suspiciously.

ANTS:

Hey, man, who cut the cheese?

Curt tries to smile but looks pretty guilty. Then Joe looks

around from the front seat.

JOE:

He who smelt it, dealt it. (looking at Curt in the back) Hey,

creep, scoot down. Sitting up like that, it wrecks the lines of

the car, you know what I mean?

Curt scoots down to a level even with Ants. Ants is staring at

him and grinning evilly. Then they hear an incredible roar, and

they all turn to see Bob Falfa's black '55 Chevy pass by. Falfa

has a new girl with him this time, a lovely redhead.

JOE:

There's that badass Chevy again. Look at he snatch he's got with

him.

ANTS:

Hey, man, he looks like a whimp.

Curt nods and tries to join in.

CURT:

Probably is. Whimps get all the snatch.

Carlos and Ants look at him. Like nobody asked him to open his

mouth.

CARLOS:

Milner ain't gonna beat that. His time has come. He's getting

old. He ain't as fast as he used to be.

INSIDE THE DEUCE COUPE

Milner may not be as fast a he used to be--and having a little

teeny-bopper with him isnt' helping matters. He looks over at

Carol. She's moved closer to him.

JOHN:

You got two seconds to get your ass over in the corner.

CAROL:

Don't worry, I won't rape you.

Carol slides back to her side. BUt as they glide along, Carol

watches John. Sh'es moon-eyed and flipped over him. John deftly

down-shifts as he approaches a light and then accelerates through

the gears with a "race" expertise.

There's a honk and John and Carol look over to see a '60 Cadillac

full of girls laughing at them.

GIRL:

You got a bitchin' car.

John nods modestly.

In fact, we're gonna give you our special prize for having the

neatest car around. You want me to give it to you?

JOHN:

If the prize is you, honey, I'm a ready Teddy.

GRIL:

Yeah, well get bent turkey.

The girl suddenly launches a water ballon, which John ducks

deftly, the tumescent missile catching Carol full in the face.

The girls roar off. John cracks up as Carol blinks away the

water, not believing what's happenened. She wipes her face.

CAROL:

All right, very funny. What a chop. Ha ha. Quit laughing!!

John tries to control himself, but can't.

Let's catch 'em at the light. Then you jump out and flatten their

tires.

JOHN:

Hey, wait a--

CAROL:

Just do what I say!

JOHN:

Yezz, bozz....

MAIN STREET INTERSECTION

Carol jumps out of the car as John stops the car in the right

hand lane next to the Cadillac. As Chuck Berry wails "Johnny B.

Goode," they go into action.

The girls in the Cadillac recognize John as one of their victims

and quickly roll up all windows and lock their doors. John starts

pulling the stems from the front tires, sinking the car. Carol

starts around the car with the shaving cream, spraying all their

windows with the foamy lather.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote