American Graffiti Page #21

PARADISE ROAD--DAWN

John's '32 yellow deuce coupe and Falfa's black '55 Chevy are

waiting side by side on a long, straight country road, their fron

wheels resting on a weather-beaten starting line. The sky is

getting lighter as the radio plays "Green Onions."

There are about six to eight other cars parked off the road to

watch the race. Everything is quiet now, only the crickets

ingnoring the solemnity of the scene, and still singing. Terry

jumps out of John's car, John hands him the flashlight and he

takes up a position in front of the two cars.

John looks over at Falfa, who's arguing with Laurie.

JOHN:

Hey--Laurie, what in the hell are you doing in there? Is she

gonna ride with you?

LAURIE:

Mind your own business, John.

FALFA:

Yeah, she's with me. You worry about yourself, man.

TERRY:

Everybody ready?

John settles back in the driver's seat and postions his hand on

the gear-shift, which we see is wrapped with rags because of the

missing knob.

Both drivers start revvin their engines; the tension builds.

Terry looks nervous, the engines start to scream and Terry, his

hands shaking on the flashlight, manages to flash it on.

Both cars roar off the starting line, tires smoking and

screaming. Terry has his hands over his head and is coughing in a

cloud of smoke as they pass. John beats Falfa off the line.

Out on the road, as they hit third gear, the cars are almost neck

and neck. Inside Falfa's car, Laurie looks scared to death. Falfa

looks insane as he tromps it.

John hits fourth at about eighty-five. Falfa does likewise--but

starts to fish-tail. Laurie closes her eyes, almost crying--Falfa

regains control nervously.

Falfa's engine is winding out incredibly and he begins to get the

edge on John. The cars rocket thorugh the dawn light along the

flashing white line until suddenly Falfa's car blows a tire, his

front wheel slips off and the car shoots off into a tomato field,

hits an irrigation ditch and begins flipping over wildly in a

horrifying cloud of dust and smoke--

John sees the Chevy leaving the road and screams to a halt,

swimming through an unbelievable U-turn and high tailing it back

to the crash site. He is out of the car like a bullet, running

across the dirty cloddy field. The crash car is beginning to burn

in the engine compartment and John is panicked.

Meanwhile, the spectators have arrived, including Steve, who

jumps from his car and is running across the field.

Steve and John arrive at the fire at approximately the same time.

They stop, the flames are getting higher, burning up into the

trees now. Steve looks around wildly--he sees John and goes at

him.

STEVE:

You stupid sonofabitch, she was in that car! why did you have--

He takes a couple of swings at John, who finally manages to

tackle him around the waist. They both get up looking at the

flaming wreckage. THen John moves around the side, crouching,

trying to see past the flames--suddenly, he stands and motions to

Steve to come over. They both circle the wreck.

Around behind the flaming car Falfa is standing in a state of

shock watching the car go up in smoke, while Laurie is circling

him, screaming and beating him with her purse.

LAURIE:

I said I didn't--you lousy greasy jerk! You coulda killed me--

what's wrong with you. You clubfoot...

She beats at him, crying hysterically. Steve runs over and grabs

her, pulling her away. She fights at Steve, too, not knowing

what's going on.

LAURIE:

No, no, no. Please, don't come near me. No, please. I think I'm

gonna be sick. Oh, Steven.

STEVE:

Laurie, please.

Standing in the early light, Steve holds her. She throws her

arms around him as the crowd develops along the irrigation ditch

to watch the flaming car.

LAURIE:

Oh, Steven! Oh, Steven, please, don't leave me. Don't leave me,

Steven.

STEVE:

I won't.

LAURIE:

I couldn't bear it.

STEVE:

I won't.

LAURIE:

Please.

STEVE:

Believe me.

John looks at Falfa who's shaking his head, watching the car

dissolve.

JOHN:

Come on, before she blows.

He pulls him off by the neck of the shirt and when they're a few

yards off, Falfa's '55 Chevy does blow--exploding like a small A-

bomb, blowing it into Modesto history.

Back on the road, John is heading toward his car, its engine

still running, its door open. Terry runs up, trotting alongside

John like a puppy.

TERRY:

Jeez, did you show him! He'll probably never even get in a car

again.

JOHN:

He was faster.

TERRY:

It was beautiful, John. Just beauti--what?

John stops by the open door of the duece coupe. Terry stares at

him and squints against the rising sun.

JOHN:

I was losin', man.

TERRY:

What?

JOHN:

He had me, man. He was pullin' away from me just before he

crashed.

TERRY:

You're crazy.

JOHN:

You saw it.

TERRY:

No, you creamed him, from right off the line. The guy never had a

chance.

JOHN:

Sh*t, Toad. The man had me. He was beating me.

TERRY:

John, I don't know what you're talking about. It was the most

beautiful thing I've ever seen. That guy, he might as well get a

wheelchair and roll himself home. Man, you got...you got the

bitchinist car in the Valley. You'll always be number one, John.

You're the greatest.

John nods, then looks up at Terry. His face is glowing, his

glasses are smashed and his lip is swollen. John smiles.

JOHN:

Look at your glasses, man. (shaking his head) Okay, Toad. We'll

take 'em all.

TERRY (grinning)

Right.

JOHN:

We'll take em...let's get out of here.

John climbs in the car. Terry yawns and shakes his head.

TERRY:

Jesus, what a night.

He climbs in too, and the deuce coupe drives off slowly as the

sun rises over the ploughed fields and on the radio we hear "Only

You."

MEL'S DRIVE-IN-DAWN-CITROEN

Curt sleeps in the little car as the sky grows lighter over the

empty parking lot. The phone is ringing in the booth. It

continues to ring. Finally Curt becomes aware of it and opens his

eyes. It takes him a moment to remember. Then, panicked, he jumps

from the car and rushes to the booth. CURT

Hello, hello, hello!

A soft sexy female voice is on the other end of the line.

VOICE (over)

Curt?

CURT:

Yeah...this is Curt, who is this?

VOICE:

Who were you expecting?

CURT:

Do you drive a white T-Bird?

VOICE:

A white '56. I saw you on Third Street.

CURT:

You know me.

VOICE:

Of course!

CURT:

Who are you? How do you know me?

VOICE:

It's not important.

CURT (excitedly)

It's important to me. You're the most perfect, beautiful creature

I've ever seen and I don't know anything about you. Could we meet

someplace?

VOICE:

I cruise Third Street every night. Maybe I'll see you again

tonight.

CURT:

No...I don't think so.

VOICE:

Why?

CURT:

I'm leaving...in a couple of hours. Where are you from?

VOICE:

Curt...

CURT:

What's your name? At least tell me your name?

VOICE:

Goodbye, Curt.

CURT:

Wait a second! Wait a second!

But there's a click as she hangs up. Curt looks at the phone a

moment, then also hangs up. From the car radio, he hears the

Wolfman making kissing noises.

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