American Graffiti Page #2

GIRL:

Hi John!

The girls in the car all screech and giggle as they zoom off.

JOHN:

Not too good, huh?

CURT:

Why is it every girl that comes around here is ugly? Or has a

boyfriend? Where is the dazzling beauty I've been searching for

all my life?

John watches the procession of gleaming cars traveling through

the hot night. JOHN

I know what you mean. The pickin's are really gettin' slim. The

whole strip is shrinking. Ah, you know, I remember about five

years ago, take you a couple of hours and a tank full of gas just

to make one circuit. It was really somethin.' Suddenly, in the

distance, there's a blood-curdling scream from an incredible

high-performance engine. The entire drive-in stops and listens.

CURT:

Hey, John. Someone new in town.

JOHN:

Ahhh.

CURT:

You gonna go after him?

JOHN:

Hey, listen, Professor, if he can't find me, then he ain't worth

racin', right?

CURT:

The big shot!

Across the swarming parking lot, Steve sits in the front seat of

his chevy with Laurie. Budda Macrae, a car hop, leans down to

attach a tray to Steve's window, showing off her tight blouse.

BUDDA:

A cherry-vanilla coke and a chocolate mountain. Anything else you

want, Steve?

Steve shakes his head.

If there is you let me know now. Just honk and I'm yours.

She tucks in her blouse a little tighter, gives him a hot look

and goes to get the other tray. Budda takes the other tray around

the car, almost shoves it in the window where Laurie is sitting.

BUDDA:

One fries--grab it before I drop it.

She gives Laurie an antagonistic look and goes off. Steve laughs.

Laurie smiles. She's seventeen, very pretty, with big doe-eyes,

and a short bobbed hairdo. She pushes up the sleeves on Steve's

letterman sweater, which is sizes too large for her. His class

ring glints on a chain around her neck. Laurie is sweet, the

image of vulnerability, but with a practical and self-preserving

mind beneath.

STEVE:

Where was I? LAURIE

Um, how you thought high school romances were goofy and we

started going together just because you thought I was kinda cute

and funny, but then you suddenly realized you were in love with

me, it was serious...and ah...oh, you were leadin' up to

somethin' kinda big. STEVE

You make it sound like I'm giving dictation. Well, seriously,

what I meant was, that ah...since we do care for each other so

much, and since we should really consider ourselves as adults.

Now, I, ah...could I have a couple of those fries? Through the

windshield of the Chevy, they see Terry run by in front of them,

chasing Budda Macrae who's outdistancing him on her roller

skates. TERRY

Come on, Budda. Come on...

Steve watches them go by, then looks back at Laurie.

STEVE:

Ah, where was I?

LAURIE:
..."consider ourselves adults"...

Laurie pretends to be interested in her french fries, but is

obviously expecting something big.

STEVE:

Right...right...anyway, I thought maybe, before I leave, we could

ah...agree that...that seeing other people while I'm away can't

possibly hurt, you know?

Laurie hasn't looked up but her mood has changed like a mask.

LAURIE:

You mean dating other people?

STEVE:

I think it would strengthen our relationship. Then we'd know for

sure that we're really in love. Not that there's any doubt.

Steve smiles and then looks to her. He stops smiling. They listen

to the radio for an awkward moment. Laurie struggles to hold back

her tears. With obvious difficulty, she turns to him and smiles.

He's expected something different and doesn't know what to do, so

he smiles back.

LAURIE:

I think you're right. I mean, we're not kids anymore, and it's

silly to think that when we're three thousand miles apart we

shouldn't be able to see other people and go out.

Laurie takes his ring on the chain from around her neck and puts

it in her purse.

STEVE:

Laurie, now, listen, I didn't ask for that back. I think that...

LAURIE:

I know. I just sort of think it's juvenile now. I'll keep it at

home. It's less consipicuous there.

STEVE:

You don't want to wear it?

LAURIE:

I didn't say that. I understand and I'm not upset. I mean, I

can't expect you to be a monk or something while you're away.

Steve just looks at her and nods. The Wolfman howls an intro to

"Gee" by the Crows.

Outside, skooting around the drive-in after Budda, Terry is

pleading with the sexy car hop as she delivers a tray to a car.

TERRY:

...and I hace a really sharp record collection. I even have

"Pledging My Love" by Johnny Ace. Anyway, how can you love Nelson

when he's going out with Marilyn Gator. Since he dumped on you

maybe we could--

BUDDA:

He didn't dump on me, you little dip. Hi, Steve!

Her tone changes immediately. Terry looks sour and turns around

to Steve who's getting out of the chevy. Budda leaves, wiggling

her butt for Steve.

TERRY:

She's a little conceited--just playing hard to get.

STEVE:

Listen, I came over here to talk to you about--

TERRY:

Any time, buddy. I'm your man. Nothing I like better than chewing

the rug with a pal. You talk, I'll listen. I'm all ears. Shoot.

STEVE:

Shut up.

TERRY:

Sure.

STEVE:

Terry, I'm going to let you take care of my car while we're away-

-at least until Christmas. I'm afraid if I leave it with my--

Steve notices Terry isn't with him any more and turns. Terry is

standing frozen to a spot.

STEVE:

What's wrong?

Terry tries to talk, much like a shell-shocked war veteran. His

mouth moves but only a gurgle comes out.

Curt is standing by the Chevy, talking with his sister Laurie.

She's still upset by what Steve said to her.

CURT:

Hey, sis--what's wrong?

LAURIE:

Nothing.

Meanwhile, they watch Terry as Steve explains to him about the

car.

STEVE:

Now listen, only 30 weight Castrol-R. I've written the tire

pressure and stuff on a pad in the glove compartment . Are you

listening?

The others are watching now as Terry shakes his head

mechanically.

CURT:

What's wrong, he's crying!

There is indeed a tear rolling down Terry's cheek.

TERRY:

I can't...believe...it. (He starts toward the car and gently

caresses its paint.) I don't know what to say. I'll...love and

protect this car until death do us part. (He circles the car.)

This is a superfine machine. This may even be better than Daryl

Starbird's superfleck moonbird. It is better than Daryl

Starbird's.

Laurie watches Terry, realizing that like the car, she'll be left

behind as a fond memory. She turns and looks at Steve, who's been

watching her. There's a moment between them...

Budda comes by with an empty tray. Terry sees her and wipes his

eyes. He walks up to her, a strange look on his face.

TERRY:

Budda, how would you like to go to the drive-in movies with me?

The idea is so preposterous that even Budda is speechless. She

looks around at others.

BUDDA:

You've got to be kidding!

TERRY:

Would I kid you about a thing like that? I want you to know that

something has happened to me tonight that is going to change

everything. I've got a new... TERRY

Would I kid you about a thing like that? I want you to know that

something has happened to me tonight that is going to change

everything. I've got a new...

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