American Graffiti Page #16

STEVE:

I think I'm gonna go over to Burger City.

TERRY:

Yeah. Yeah. Laurie's probably over there.

STEVE:

You really think she's got me worried about where she is, don't

you?

TERRY:

Well...

STEVE:

Let me tell you something. I couldn't care less. Want to come

along?

DEBBIE:

Yeah, I do. I do.

TERRY:

No.

STEVE:

Make up your minds.

TERRY:

No, thanks. U'mm. You know we got to report the car missing.

STEVE:

All right. See yuh.

TERRY:

Yeah. See yuh.

Steve goes off and Debbie looks at Terry.

DEBBIE:

Why can't we go to Burger City?

TERRY:

Burger City? Burger City!!? How can you think of hamburgers when

somebody stole my car.

She looks hurt and starts off.

ALLEY BEHIND JERRY'S CHERRIES USED-CAR LOT

Curt is getting out of the low-slung Merc and Joe saunters around

from the driver's side. He smiles, friendly like--

JOE:

Listen, ah--Carl, I--

CURT:

Curt.

JOE:

Curt.

He nods at Curt, looking cautiously around the dark lot.

Despite you scratching Gil's car, I like you. And I know what

you'd like more than anything right now. Like every guy in town,

you got the same secret dream, right?

Curt nods.

Ya want to join the Pharoahs. Huh? You can admit it--you'd like

to--but you never dreamed it could be possible, did you?

Curt shakes his head slowly.

Well, tonight, I'm goin' to give you your chance.

Curt hasn't the slightest idea what Joe is talking about. Joe

puts his arm around Curt's shoulders and leads him away,

explaining what he has to do, while Ants and Carlos grin.

In the middle of the used car lot, a patrol car hides among the

autos for sale. Inside the car, Holstein sits with another

officer who's dozing. Across Holstein's dark glasses, reflections

of the kids' cars cruising by can be seen, as Holstein waits to

nab somebody.

Joe approaches the patrol car through the lot. He ducks, carrying

a length of metal cable in his hand. Curt wanders behind him. Joe

sees him and motions for him to get down.

Get down!

Curt ducks down near Joe.

Okay. Now you got it? I'm stayin' here. You're on your own.

CURT:

Wait a minute, wait a minute, Joe. What if he hears me?

JOE:

Shhh. Listen. Look at it this way

Now you got three choices. One, you chicken out. In that case, I

let Ants tie you to the car and drag you around a little bit. And

you don't want that, right?

CURT:

No.

JOE:

Two, you foul up and Holstein hears you and well, ah...you don't

want that, right?

CURT:

No, I don't.

JOE:

Three, you are successful and you join the Pharoahs with a

carcoat, and the blood initiation and all that, huh?

CURT (seeing Joe walk away)

Wait--wait a minute. Wait a minute! What blood initiation?

WOLFMAN (voice over)

Oh, here we go baby! Here's "Come Go With Me." The policeman

waits for a victim. In the background, we see Curt dodging from

behind one car to another. Taking cover, Curt makes another break

toward a car--and trips and falls.

In the cop car, Holstein thinks he hears something. He opens the

door and gets out. Adjusting his billy club, he paces around the

used car lot officiously, while Curt hides behind a Falcon and

peeks out from behind a fender. He sees Holstein walking back

toward the squad car. The cop opens the door again and climbs in.

The echoing sound of the calls coming over the police radio blend

with the Wolfman's howling as cars pass with their radios

blaring.

Curt is inching forward with the cable, toward the squad car. In

the background, a slow freight train can be heard starting to

move across the valley. Curt ties the cable to a post and then,

looking scared, crawls under the police car with the cable.

Underneath the car, Curt inches on his back and then reaches up

and attatches the cable to the rear axle of the car.

MAIN STREET:

Terry and Debbie are walking across the street, Terry looks

miserable and disconsolate about the loss of the Chevy he

possessed for three short hours. Debbie tries to be more positive

about the situation.

DEBBIE:

Hey, why don't we go get your jeep?

TERRY:

What? What are you talking about?

DEBBIE:

You know, your jeep. The one you sold the hunting ponies for. The

one with the four-wheel drive.

Terry just stares at her morosely. He stops by a parking meter

and sinks down on top of it.

DEBBIE:

Come on, Terry--Terry?

ALLEY BEHIND JERRY'S CHERRIES USED CAR LOT

Curt and Joe are on the run toward the Merc. Ants and Carlos jump

in as they start their getaway.

JOE:

Hey, you sure you got enough slack?

CURT:

Yeah, yeah. No sweat. Let's get out of here.

MAIN STREET:

Joe shifts into high gear and is flying down the main drag. Terry

and Debbie look startled as they see the Pharoah's Mercury

roaring by--and Curt leaning out the door, shouting insanely.

CURT:

Stand by for Justice!

Terry and Debbie watch the Merc speed suicidally past Jerry's

Cherries Used-Car Lot.

Holstein spots them and the driver starts up the engine of the

squad car. THe red lights start flashing and the siren wails. The

patrol car shifts into gear and leaps forward. Suddenly, there's

a horrendous metallic screech, the patrol car hurtles up and out,

airborne for a moment--then noses down and bounces along the

pavement, sending out sparks as it slides to a stop.

The driver is stunned and frozen to the wheel. Holstein manages

to remove his dark glasses and looks back. There, sitting quietly

in the middle of the parking lot, is their trans-axle and two

rear wheels.

The patrol car sits on the ground at a twenty degree angle, while

its engine whines impotently at top speed.

On the radio, the all-seeing Wolfman gives an evil laugh--

WOLFMAN (voice over)

Oh, I can't believe it. Feels so good 'cause you're sweet

sixteen.

And Johnny Burnette takes his cue and croons into "You're

Sixteen."

A DARK ROAD OUTSIDE TOWN--DEUCE COUPE

John has glided off the main drag and into a residential area.

Everything is dark and quiet as the adult population sleeps

through the night. John pulls the coupe to the curb and turns off

the engine. He turns out the lights.

Inside the car, there's silence. Only the clock ticking. Carol

looks over at John a little nervously.

CAROL:

Why are we stopping here?

John looks at her and his arm slides along the back of the seat

above her. She notices his arm and the fact that he's moving

slowly toward her.

JOHN (in a husky voice)

Carol...

CAROL:

What?

JOHN:

I--I don't think that I can control myself any longer.

CAROL:

You can't?

JOHN:

No...Carol, I've got to have you.

CAROL:

Me?

He touches her hair and she slouches back into her corner

fearfully.

JOHN:

All night you've been sitting there and you've been so sexy and

it's been so hot--and I can't wait any more...

CAROL:

Well--well, a lot of that's an act, you know. Like...like my

crying. It was just an act.

JOHN:

Well, it's been building up inside of me like a volcano, all

night. Maybe if I knew where you lived I could fight it--I could

take you home--but since you won't tell me, and since here we

are--I've got to have you. It's too late--

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