American Graffiti Page #14

MR. GORDON

Yeah, you'll stay in touch by letter, won't you?

There's a knock at the screen and they turn to see Joe at the

screen door.

JOE:

Hey, we're all done out here.

MR. GORDON

All done? What--what's he mean?

CURT:

Ah, he means, we're all done having loads of fun out here.

MR. GORDON

Oh, well...

HANK:

Wonderful. You can have all the fun you want. This place is for

fun.

CURT:

Yes. Yes, it is. Thank you. Thank you both.

MR. GORDON

Good luck now.

HANK:

Before I say goodbye, Curt, I want to tell you I hope you'll be

taking along with you a little piece of this place.

CURT:

I think I have.

HANK:

Good. Don't forget us.

CURT:

No, I won't forget you and you won't forget me.

MR. GORDON

Okay. 'Bye.

HANK:

Good-bye and good luck.

CURT:

'Bye.

JOE:

It was nice to meet yuh.

CURT:

Right. What he said goes for me, too.

Curt and Joe go out through the arcade toward the Mercury. They

start walking faster, anxious to get away. Joe grins at Curt as

they climb into the car.

JOE:

Yeah, you just might make it as a Pharoah yet, boy. Back in the

office, Hank and Mr. Gordon watch the car pull out.

HANK:

Some day he'll make a fine Moose. THE CANAL BANK

Steve's Chevy sits near the canal. The door is open and the radio

blares, while Terry and Debbie are off somewhere in the weeds

making out.

Suddenly, a beam from a flashlight plays across the trunk. Feet

approach the car as the light beam moves across the interior and

stops on the vacated shoes on the front seat.

The light beam continues past the empty bourbon bottle and starts

int he direction of the field where Terry and Debbie are lost in

the throes of passionate love. As we follow the light into the

field we hear footsteps.

As the darkened figure approaches the couple, we see the light go

out and catch a gleam of silver in the moonlight as a switchblade

springs open!

Terry reacts to the sound.

DEBBIE:

What's wrong?

TERRY:

I thought I heard something.

She kisses him and he forgets about the noise. The figure

retreats back to the Chevy, where another indistinct figure

waits.

VOICE (off)

They're porking in the weeds. No sweat.

Terry and Debbie are restingin the field, listening to the radio

in the distance. A car engine is heard starting up and

disappearing down the canal bank.

The countryside is very quiet. Only crickets and frogs are heard

as Terry begins to drop off asleep. He suddenly jumps with a

start.

TERRY:

Wait a minute!

DEBBIE:

What?

TERRY:

The radio is gone...That means--the car is gone!

He scrambles to the spot where the Chevy once stood.

TERRY:

Oh no!!! OH NO!!!

Debbie comes up and watches Terry look heavenward.

Oh God--I'm sorry. But, why the car? You could have struck us

with lightning or something--anything---but not the car!

THE CANAL BANK--LAURIE'S '58 EDSEL

Cars are seen here and there in the moonlight along the

irrigation canal outside of town. In the cars radios are playing

"To the Aisle," laughter can be heard in some, whispering in

others.

Laurie's Edsel is parked by the slow-moving water. In the front

seat of the car, Steve and Laurie are making out. Laurie leans

back against Steve, his arms around her, and they look out the

window at the stars...

LAURIE:

You know, it doesn't make sense to leave home to look for a home,

to give up a life to find a new life, to say goodbye to friends

you love just to find new friends.

STEVE:

What? Say that again, I didn't--

LAURIE:

That's what Curt said.

STEVE:

Oh, figures. (smiling) You must've talked his ear off trying to

get him to stay.

LAURIE:

That's not true. I didn't say anything. Curt just said at dinner

tonight he realized there was no big hurry. He thought he should

take it easy for a while, go to J.C. and try to figure out what

he wants to do with his life.

STEVE:

That sounds logical.

Laurie's expression changes.

LAURIE:

You think so?

STEVE:

Sure. I think Curt's probably right for Curt. Not for me though.

Laurie, look at me. Now you know what I want out of life. And

it's just not in this town.

LAURIE:

I'm not going to the airport tomorrow.

She looks sullen and he smiles a little. He turns her around and

gently kisses here. They begin to make out, Laurie seeming a

little desperate. Steve pushes her slowly down on the seat. He

moves on top of here and his hand begins to wander.

LAURIE:

Steve! Don't.

STEVE (quietly)

It's our last night together for three months...come on.

LAURIE:

We've been through this before.

STEVE:

I'm going to miss you so much. I need something to remember you

by. You don't want me to forget you.

She closes her eyes, trying not to cry.

LAURIE (softly)

No...

He starts to move on top of her, kissing her neck. She struggles

for a few moments, then goes limp, not responding. He pulls away

angrily.

STEVE:

What's wrong? You're just lying there.

LAURIE:

Well go ahead, you want to.

STEVE:

Not like that.

LAURIE:

If you're not going to remember me for anything else, why don't

you go ahead?

STEVE:

You want it and you know it. Don't be so damn self-righteous with

me. After those things you told me about watching your brother--

LAURIE:

You're disgusting! Get out of my car! I told you never--

STEVE:

I'm sorry.

LAURIE:

Get out! It's not worth it. I don't care if you're leaving--now

get out!

She reaches past him and pulls the door handle. The door swings

open and she shoves Steve out. Then she starts the engine and

drives away, leaving Steve standing there in the darkness. In the

distance, he hears the laughter of other couples and the drifting

music from their radios.

THE CANAL ROAD:

Terry and Debbie walk slowly along the dark canal. Terry takes a

large slug of his bourbon and coke.

DEBBIE:

Anyway, the Goat Killer--

TERRY:

Let's talk about something else.

DEBBIE:

--Whenever he strikes, he leaves a bloody goat's head near the

victim. Isn't that creepy?

Terry thinks about it and indeed it is. He looks around into the

darkness and then takes Debbie's hand.

They thought he went up to Stockton, but two nights ago they

found Carlie Johnson and Don White right here by the canal all

hacked to pieces and--

TERRY:

Who do you think'll take the regionals this--

DEBBIE:

--not only were there bloody goats' heads, but he had switched

all the parts of their bodies around. You know putting her arms

on him and his legs on--

Terry is slowing and he stops her. He motions for her to shut up

and they listen. The wind whines across the flat valley. Ahead

there is only darkness, then footsteps!

TERRY:

Wait a second. Did you hear...?

DEBBIE:

You think it's the Goat Killer?

TERRY (whispering)

No! I mean, no. Listen, I'll go for help, you stay here.

Terry has turned and is starting off when she grabs him by his

shirt-tail.

DEBBIE:

Come on, we'll hide in the field.

She takes Terry's hand and they go off behind some bushes, away

from the black water.

Debbie looks through the bushes, squinting.

Maybe if it's the Goat Killer he'll get somebody and we'll see

the whole thing.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote