American Graffiti Page #9

TERRY:

Ah, no thanks, I'm waiting for a double Chubby --Chuck...

VIC:

Then shut your smart ass mouth! I'll call ya, Deb, some night

when I'm hard up.

DEBBIE:

I won't be home.

Vic makes a kiss-off noise. She lights a match and flicks it at

him. He finally leaves.

TERRY:

You seem to, ah--know a lot of weird guys.

DEBBIE:

That sex fiend is not a friend of mine; he's just horny. That's

why I like you, you're different.

TERRY:

I am? You really think I'm intelligent?

She moves very close to him and whispers in his ear.

DEBBIE:

Yeah. And I'll bet you're smart enough to get us some brew.

TERRY:

Brew?

DEBBIE:

Yeah.

TERRY:

Brew...oh--yeah...oh, sure...(she kisses him) Yes! Liquor! This

place is too crowded anyway.

Terry backs out and drives off, leaving the approaching car hop

standing in an empty parking space.

CAR HOP:

What abut your double Chubby Chuck, mexicali-chili-barb and

(looking at the tray)--two cherry cokes, sir?

CRUISING MAIN STREET-'57 VOLKSWAGEN

We see the white T-bird ahead for just a moment, before it

accelerates, passes a car and disappears, as we hear "Peppermint

Twist" from the radio.

In the VW, Curt is in the back, shaking the driver's seat,

yelling at Bobbie. Wendy is in front next to Bobbie.

CURT:

There--don't you see it? Speed up, you're losing her--

BOBBIE:

Quit shouting in my ear!

CURT:

Cut around him, cut around him.

The little VW swerves and cuts around an old dagoed Dodge, then

speeds along the fast lane.

Ahead, we catch a glimpse of the T-bird as it turns a corner.

CURT:

There, hang a right--over there!

Bobbie turns, somebody honks, she hits the curb, shifting madly

she mis-clutches; the beetle lugs forward; Curt falls back in the

seat and Wendy looks at him.

CURT:

You lost her!

WENDY:

What's wrong with you? You know Bobbie gets nose bleeds when

she's upset.

BOBBIE:

I do not! You shut up!

CURT:

Lost her again. Ah, Wendy, my old lover, come back here and

console me.

WENDY:

Eat your heart out. Who was she anyway?

CURT:

I don't know, but I'm going to find out.

BOBBIE:

I know her!

There are a few moments of silence as Bobbie lets Curt sweat it

out. Finally, Curt breaks.

CURT:

Okay, come on, who is she?

BOBBIE:

You know Mr. Beeman? He owns Hepcat Jewelers.

CURT:

Yeah.

BOBBIE:

Well, she's his wife.

CURT:

But she was young and beautiful, and cruising 10th Street. You're

thinking of someone else.

WENDY:

Mr. Beeman's not so old.

CURT:

What cruel fate keeps me from my true love? How am I ever going

to meet her?

WENDY (to Bobbie)

Did you know that my ex is going to become a presidential aide?

It's supposed to be a secret, but his big ambition in life is to

shake hands with President Kennedy. How are you going to

accomplish that at J.C.?

CURT:

Maybe I've grown up. Maybe I've changed my mind.

WENDY:

Maybe you don't think you can do it!

CURT:

Maybe you should shut up!

WENDY:

Maybe I will...and maybe I won't.

CURT:

Why don't you move your bod into aft chamber, where we might

discuss this in private.

BOBBIE (seeing that Wendy is considering it)

Thanks a lot.

CURT:

Come on, Wendy? She doesn't say anything. They pull up to a

stoplight. Wendy looks at the red stoplight and then abruptly

gets out of the car and jumps in the back.

WENDY:

Well, slide over, I'm not sitting on your lap.

She gets in and the car goes off.

In the back seat, Curt and Wendy are talking softly. He puts his

arm around her and she makes a face, but doesn't remove it.

Bobbie watches in the rear-view mirror, Curt sees her. CURT

To the Opera, James.

BOBBIE:

Drop dead.

CURT:

Unless you want to go to Gallo Dam and have an orgy.

WENDY:

You wish.

Curt looks at her and turns her head. He kisses her and puts his

arm around her. They neck. The radio plays "Barbara Ann."

The little VW flashes by in the stream of traffic. Bobbie drives,

glancing in here rear-view mirror occasionally and also watching

the station wagon ahead, in which two pairs of feet are dancing

against the back window.

Wendy pulls away from Curt's lips and looks out the window.

WENDY:

I've been silly. I'm glad you're going to stay. Maybe we'll have

some classes together.

CURT:

Maybe.

BOBBIE (from the front seat)

Look, there's Kip Pullman! He's so neat.

Wendy turns and leans forward, laughing. Curt watches her

seriously, studying her.

BOBBIE:

Do you know Kip?

CURT:

Huh? Yeah, I know him.

BOBBIE:

Talk to him when we go by.

CURT:

What do you want me to say?

BOBBIE:

Anything...I just want to meet him.

They pull up next to Kip's car and Curt leans forward and yells

out Bobbie's window. CURT

Kip, baby, what's up?

KIP:

Henderson, long time no see. Whadaya been doing?

CURT:

Not much, just wanted to let you know that Bobbie here is

hopelessly in love with you and trembles at the sight of your

rippling biceps... Bobbie swerves the car away and turns a

corner. She stops on a dime at the curb.

BOBBIE:

You creep, fink, son-of-a-b*tch--

She turns and starts flailing at Curt with her purse.

CURT:

Help, wait! Joke--Joke--Bobbie, remember your nose bleeds!

BOBBIE:

Get out--get out of my car--I hate you!

CURT:

Excuse me--ouch--Wendy--I got to go now.

Wendy is laughing and Curt climbs over her out of the small car.

He gets out and closes the door. Wendy changes seats and looks at

him seriously.

WENDY:

Curt, I hope I see you at registration. Call me if you want. It

was nice seeing you again.

CURT:

See ya. The car pulls off and Curt watches it. Suddenly, he sees

something--the T-bird going the other way down the street.

CURT:

Oh sh*t--there!! Wait!

The VW's gone and Curt starts after the T-bird on foot. He runs

down the middle of the street, oblivious to the horns honking and

the cars swerving to miss him.

We move with Curt as he moves like a broken field runner through

the traffic only to finally lose the girl and the Thunderbird and

to slow and finally stop, standing on the white line. Cars slow

down and kids rubberneck as they go by him.

CRUISING G STREET--'32 YELLOW DEUCE COUPE

John is driving and the Wolfman is howling on the radio while

Carol is having the time of her life.

WOLFMAN (voice over)

Went to a dance lookin' for romance. Found Barbara

Ann...baby...Hey, this one is for all you out there watchin' the

Submarine Races.

And the radio moans into "Who Wrote the Book of Love." Carol sits

with her feet up against the dash. John knockss them off and she

scowls at him.

CAROL:

I'm so thirsty, I could die. Just a little 10 cent coke to wet my

whistle. It won't take a minute, I can drink it in the--

John suddenly hits the brakes and Carol almost hits the floor.

John reaches over and opens the door.

JOHN:

Why don't you just get out and get one then! So long, goodbye,

hasta lumbago.

She stares at him, shaken, looking sweet and helpless. He turns

and looks at her. A tear rolls down her cheek slowly. John can't

take it.

All right, one coke and then home.

Carol is delighted. She slams the door. John takes off.

CAROL:

Isn't it great, the way I can cry whenever I want. A lot of

people can't do that, but Vicki showed me how. I bet you can't

cry.

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