American Graffiti Page #17

CAROL:

It's not too late! It's never too late! 231 Ramona--two three

one--

JOHN (smiling)

Two three one--

CAROL:

I'll show you! It's easy to find.

John starts the car engine. Carol looks very relieved. The yellow

deuce coupe roars off down the dark street.

MEL'S DRIVE-IN

Steve sits in the almost empty cafe section of Burger City. He

stirs a coffee and mulls over the night's events in his mind. A

door opens and Budda Macrae comes in. She watches him a moment,

then takes off her little Bell Boy Cap and gets a cup of coffee

for herself.

Steve looks up as she comes over on her roller skates. BUDDA

Hi. You mind if I sit down?

STEVE:

Hi Budda. No, have a seat.

BUDDA:

I got five minutes outa the rat race, and I saw you all alone.

For a change.

She drinks her coffe and he looks out the window thinking about

something else.

BUDDA:

Where's Laurie?

STEVE:

I don't know.

BUDDA:

I thought the two of you'd be going strong, this being your last

night and everything--

STEVE:

We broke up.

Budda looks surprised.

No big deal.

BUDDA:

Wow...what happened?

STEVE:

Nothing. We were out at the canal and...we had a fight.

Budda smiles and he looks ather strangely.

What's so funny?

BUDDA:

Nothing. Just thinking. A girl like Laurie--I mean, she goes to

school and is cute and popular and all, but we're not so

different. We know what we want. I've seen her after you for two

years now.

STEVE:

She's not like that.

BUDDA:

Maybe not. She does have a different approach. Hers is "Never

surrender," me I lay down my arms at the drop of a hat--

VOICE (off)

Budda, you got an hour left, let's get on it.

BUDDA (yelling back)

All right, relax...old fart. Listen, I'm off in an hour. If you

wanta come over, my girlfriend's away for the weekend.

STEVE:

I don't know...

Laurie walks up the drive-in and is about to enter when she

stops and watches Steve and Budda. She thinks about going in,

then hesitates, watching them.

BUDDA:

Why don't you? I never got a chance to talk to you. You're

leaving tomorrow. Listen, I gave up a long time ago, so it'd be

just for fun. No problems.

She smiles at him and he smiles back a little. At the door,

Laurie turns and leaves before Steven sees her.

BUDDA:

I'll see ya later then.

She gets up and goes back to the counter on her skates. Steve

thinks a moment and gets up also.

STEVE:

Budda, Budda wait.

She turns and he comes over to her as she puts back on her little

cap.

I gotta get up early and--I just don't think it'd work out.

BUDDA:

She's got you so brainwashed--well, hell. Some day I'm gonna win.

Don't ya think?

STEVE:

Sure.

She smiles briefly, then turns and leaves. Steve watches her go.

MEL'S DRIVE-IN

The drive-in remains a raucous roar

Cars coming in from the hop, from the movies, other cars going

out to the canal or back out to cruise. Only the car hops, who

have developed a late-hour, harried look, suggest it's nearly

closing time.

The Pharoahs arrive. The Mercury swings imperiously into the lot.

THe radio can be heard as the rumbling engine dies. The Clovers

are singing "Love Potion #9."

Curt jumps out of the Mercury elated. The Pharoahs all climb out

and circle him, punching him playfully. Joe holds him while

Carlos tickles him and they all laugh.

JOE:

Oh mother, it's been a glorious night.

CARLOS:

That was the bitchinest thing I ever seen in my whole life.

ANTS:

I seen a little kid attacked by pigs once, but this was even

better.

JOE:

Oh boy, I'll tell you something, that car must've jumped five

feet in the air!

Curt nods, feeling pretty good.

You sure you got to go? The night's young.

CURT:

Yeah, there's some things I got to do. I still want to find that

blonde.

JOE:

I think she was an optical delusion, man. Psychology-wise it

ain't good to dwell on it. You'll alter your ego or something.

Anyway, catch ya tomorrow night.

CURT:

yeah, I guess so.

JOE:

Guess so? Man, we don't admit a lot of guys to the Pharoahs. You

understand we're going to have to swipe your jacket and all--you

gotta make up your mind.

Curt nods, thinking about it. Then he shrugs. He looks at the

three Pharoahs as they climb back into their maroon chariot.

CURT:

Hey--I'll see you guys.

JOE:

Sure--listen, remember, Rome wasn't buried in a night.

Joe laughs and Curt nods. He watches the Mercury pull out and

then he wanders back across the drive-in toward his little

Citroen.

WOLFMAN (voice over)

My, my, my. You only got five minutes left, if you want to talk

to the Wolfman. Gonna make all your dreams come true, baby.

Curt gets intothe little car and sits listening to the radio. The

neon MEL'S DRIVE-IN is reflected across the windshield.

VOICE(over)

Wolfman...

WOLFMAN:

Yeah.

VOICE:

Would you dedicate a record to keep me and my girlfriend

together?

WOLFMAN:

Are you separated?

VOICE:

Well,see, we're havin' a little problem.

WOLFMAN:

I'll bring you right together. Hold on a minute, man. Hi ya, hi

ya, hi, hi, hi. Everything's gonna be allright now, man, you

understand? Now, let me play the record for you.

As the Wolfman talks on, Curt glances toward the street. He sees

the white Thunderbird gliding by. He sits up quickly and tries to

start the Citroen--but the machine barely turns over. He keeps

trying deperately, but the engine won't catch.

CRUISING G STREET--'58 EDSEL

Laurie drives slowly, alone in the Edsel. On the radio, the

Skyliners are lamenting the sad state of things--"Since I Don't

Have You." Laurie wipes her eyes, crying with the music. A horn

honks. She looks over to see Bob Falfa's car pacing her. He's

alone now and grinning at her. Laurie ignores him. They drive

along further. Falfa roars his engine, but she still doesn't give

him any attention. He gives up and pulls off.

Laurie thinks a while, pouting. She pulls alongside Falfa at the

next light. He isn't looking at her. She toots her horn and he

turns. Laurie motions him to pull over.

Falfa looks surprised. The light changes, and he follows her to

the curb. Laurie takes a deep breath, and with a determined look,

gets out and walks back to his car. She gets in and closes the

door. They start off. He looks over and smiles.

FALFA:

Hey Hey Hey, baby, what do you say?

LAURIE:

Just don't say anything and we'll get along fine.

Falfa is puzzled by the frigidity in the air. He glances at her

then back at the road, wondering about this strange chick.

RESIDENTIAL STREET--DEUCE COUPE

The coupe slows in front of a modest California ranch-style home.

John stops the car and turns off the engine. He looks over at

Carol, who seems lost in thought.

JOHN:

This the first time you've been quiet all night.

CAROL:

I had fun. Goodbye.

She sits for a moment, about to say something.

Do you like me?

JOHN:

Yeah. I like you. You're all right.

CAROL:

But I mean, do you like me?

JOHN:

I, ah...I like you. Okay?

CAROL:

Couldn't I have something to remember you by?

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