American Graffiti Page #5

SALESMAN:

I'll give you $525 for her on a practically new Corvette...and on

top of this, I'm going to know 10% off the low price of this

beautiful Vette. I'm talking about only $98 down and $98 a month.

Now, how am I able to make you this incredible offer? I'll tell

you! I'm forced to move all the sporty cars off the lot as

quickly as I can. Boss's orders. He doesn't want 'em. I think

it's a mistake, but what can I do?

Terry begins to get worried as the salesman begins to fondle his

new Chevy. He becomes frightened as the salesman attempts to drag

him over to one of the 'Vettes. Finally Terry breaks away and

jumps back into his car and the salesman continues to rave on as

Terry drives away.

HIGH SCHOOL GYM--"AT THE HOP"

Herbie and the Heartbeats, wearing their matching red blazers,

rock into a raunchy rendition of their masterpiece--

HERBIE AND THE HEARTBEATS

One, two, three, four-- one, two three, four--

BAH...BAH...BAH...BAH...

BAH...BAH...BAH...BAH...

BAH...BAH...BAH...BAH...

BAH...BAH...BAH...BAH...

At the hop!!

Pulling back from the bandstand, we see the Dewey High School

gym--the basketball nets swung back and draped with crepe, the

lights half-low, the noise high, and the waxed floor being

polished and pounded by stockinged feet as a seething mob of

adolescents join in that ancient rite--The Hop.

A hundred of them are dancing and swaying while the band gyrates

on a raised platform. Kids on wooden bleachers watch the whirling

and spinning mass of ponytails and ducktails, button-down shirts

and mid calf skirts, cardigan sweaters with little belts in the

back.

THE GIRLS' LAVATORY

Laurie stands in front of a mirror in a line of other girls. She

brushes her hair, staring rather despondently at herself in the

mirror. The girl next to her is Peg Fuller, a cute cheerleader.

PEG:

Hey, why are you so depressed? You'll forget him in a week.

Listen, after you're elected senior queen you'll have so many

boys after your bod--

LAURIE:

I don't want to go out with anybody else.

PEG:

Laurie, I know it's a drag but you can't--remember what happened

to Evelyn Chelnick? When Mike went to the Marines? She had a

nervous breakdown and was acting so wacky she got run over by a

bus.

LAURIE:

I just wish I could go with him or something.

PEG:

Laurie, jeez...Come on.

BOY'S LAVATORY:

We move down a row of sinks at which guys are working as intently

on theri coiffures as the girls. Ducktails being smoothed; glassy

waterfalls being primped; the fronts of crew cuts being waxed to

stand stiff.

Steve stands looking at himself, then glances at Eddie Quentin

standing next to him, dabbing something on his face.

STEVE:

What's that?

Eddie jerks his hand down and hides something.

EDDIE:

What's what?

Steve turns and pulls Eddie's hand up.

STEVE:

Hey, zit make-up! (laughing) Wait till I tell--hey, everybody,

Eddie--

EDDIE:

Come on, Steve--don't. Just cool it.

He takes his pimple cream back and Steve continues to laugh. He

stops slowly and looks at himself again in the mirror. He finds

something on his neck, looks around at Eddie.

STEVE (quietly)

Let me see some of that stuff.

Eddie gives him the tube and Steve dabs it on his neck.

EDDIE:

You leave tomorrow?

Steve nods.

You and Laurie engaged yet?

STEVE:

No, but we got it worked out. We're still going together but we

can date other people.

EDDIE:

And screw around--I hear college girls really give out.

Suddenly a voice shouts "One-two--" they turn to see a guy at

every toilet hit the flusher on "Three," sending a torrent of

water down the pipes. Suddenly, there's a rumbling noise as the

pipes break and water gushes over the floor. Panic! Everybody

crashes for the doors, laughing and shoving each other.

HIGH SCHOOL GYM:

The guys tumble out the lavatory door and abruptly cool it as a

dumb-looking paunchy teacher stops and looks them over, rocking

on his heels. They escape quietly. Steve and Eddie meet Laurie

coming out of the girls' lavatory with Peg. They're watching the

dancers as Hervie and his band moan through a slow number--"She's

So Fine."

STEVE:

Come on.

LAURIE:

Come on what?

STEVE:

Let's dance.

LAURIE:

No thanks.

STEVE:

Laurie, I want to dance.

LAURIE:

Who's stopping you? Eddie and Peg are listening and watching.

Steve smiles at them like everything's okay. He glares at Laurie.

STEVE (under his breath)

Laurie, I thought since this was our last night together for 3

months, you might want to dance with me.

LAURIE:

How sentimental. You'll be back at Christmas.

STEVE:

I want to dance now, not at Christmas.

He takes her arm, which she pulls away.

LAURIE:

Get your cooties off me--

Eddie and Peg are watching with great interest. Steve smiles at

them again. Then he leans down and whispers something to Laurie.

LAURIE:

Go ahead, slug me, scar my face. I wouldn't dance with you if you

were the last guy left in this gym.

EDDIE:

Uh, Peg, I think we should dance.

PEG:

No, this is getting good.

LAURIE:

I'll dance with you, Eddie. You don't mind, do you, Peggy?

She takes Eddie by the hand and leaves Steve fuming with Peg.

PEG:

Joe College strikes out. Steve gives her a snide look, then

watches Laurie and Eddie laughing, as they join in The Stroll.

The whole gym is Strolling in unison, like some strange musical

military formation.

HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY

The Stroll music floats from the gym down the empty hall. Curt

walks along with his hands in his pockets. One last trip down the

grey, locker-lined corridor. He slows and stops by locker 2127.

He smiles a little, then flips the dial of the lock. Once to the

right--back to the left--then to the right again. Curt hits the

handle. It doesn't open. Changed already. He shrugs and goes off

down the hallway.

HIGH SCHOOL GYM:

Curt walks in the background, behind the line of kids clapping as

one couple Strolls down between them. Then Curt hears somebody

call him.

MR. WOLFE (off)

Hey--Curtis!

Curt wanders over toward a young teacher, Mr. Wolfe, who is

surrounded by a group of admiring (and grade-seeking) girls. Mr.

Wolfe wears ivy league clothes and is about twenty-five, not much

older than his students.

MR. WOLFE

Curtis, come here. Help me, will you? I'm surrounded.

GIRL:

You won't dance? Come on.

MR. WOLFE

No, really, I'd like to, but I can't. I mean, if old Mr. Simpson

came in here and saw me dancing with one of you sexy little--

excuse me...one of you young ladies, he'd have my rear end.

GIRLS:

Aahhh.

The all giggle. Mr. Wolfe shrugs at Curt and heads for a door.

Curt follows him and they escape from the girls into the night.

OUTSIDE THE GYM:

Curt and Mr. Wolfe come out of the gym. Mr. Wolfe sees a couple

of guys skulking around in the shadows smoking cigarettes and

laughing. The music has changed to "See You in September."

MR. WOLFE

Hey, Warren. Come on, gentlemen, back inside. Put 'em out. Let's

go.

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