Forrest Gump Page #4

The television reveals Elvis as he thrusts his hips and sings.

ELVIS:

(sings)

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog...

Mrs. Gump and Forrest watch the television. Elvis dances

around in the same manner Forrest did. A woman in the audience

screaming and applauding.

ELVIS:

(sings)

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog...

MRS. GUMP

This is not children's eyes.

Mrs. Gump walks away, pulling Forrest with her. Forrest stops

and takes one last look. Elvis continues to perform over the

television.

ELVIS:

(sings)

"Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit

and you ain't no friend of mine."

FORREST (V.O.)

Some years later, that handsome young

man who they called "The King," well,

he sung too many songs, had himself

a heart attack or something.

EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY

Forrest is still sitting on the bus bench. The black nurse

looks at him.

FORREST:

Must be hard being a king. You know,

it's funny how you remember some

things, but some things you can't.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD/ALABAMA - MORNING (1954)

Mrs. Gump and Forrest wait for the school bus. The bus pulls

up as Mrs. Gump prepares Forrest for his first day of school.

MRS. GUMP

You do your very best now, Forrest.

FORREST:

I sure will, Momma.

FORREST (V.O.)

I remember the bus ride on the first

day of school very well.

The bus driver opens the door and looks down. Forrest walks

to the steps of the bus and looks at the bus driver. She is

smoking a cigarette.

BUS DRIVER:

Are you comin' along?

FORREST:

Momma said not to be taking rides

from strangers.

BUS DRIVER:

This is the bus to school.

FORREST:

I'm Forrest Gump.

BUS DRIVER:

I'm Dorothy Harris.

FORREST:

Well, now we ain't strangers anymore.

The bus driver smiles as Forrest steps up into the bus.

INT. BUS

Forrest steps up onto the bus. Mrs. Gump waves to Forrest as

the bus drives away. Forrest begins to walk down the aisle.

TWO YOUNG BOYS look up from the seat.

BOY #1

This seat's taken.

BOY #2

It's taken!

Forrest looks around. A larger girl slides over so Forrest

can't sit next to her. She shakes her head. Forrest looks to

the other side where a boy sits alone on a larger seat. They

boy glares up at Forrest.

BOY #3

You can't sit here.

FORREST (V.O.)

You know, it's funny what a young

man recollects. 'Cause I don't

remember being born.

EXT. SAVANNAH/BUS BENCH - DAY

Forrest continues talking as he sits on the bus bench.

FORREST (V.O.)

I, I... don't recall what I got for

my first Christmas and I don't know

when I went on my first outdoor

picnic. But, I do remember the first

time I heard the sweetiest voice...

INT. BUS - MORNING (1954)

Young Forrest is still standing in the aisle on the bus.

FORREST (V.O.)

...in the wide world.

GIRL:

You can sit here if you want.

Forrest looks back at JENNY CURRAN, a young girl about

Forrest's age.

FORREST (V.O.)

I had never seen anything so beautiful

in my life. She was like an angel.

JENNY:

Well, are you gonna sit down, or

aren't ya?

Forrest sits down next to Jenny.

JENNY:

What's wrong with your legs?

FORREST:

Um, nothing at all, thank you. My

legs are just fine and dandy.

FORREST (V.O.)

I just sat next to her on that bus

and had conversation all the way to

school.

JENNY:

Then why do you have those shoes on?

FORREST:

My momma said my back's crooked like

a question mark. These are going to

make me as straight as an arrow.

They're my magic shoes.

FORREST (V.O.)

And next to Momma, no one ever talked

to me or asked me questions.

JENNY:

Are you stupid or something.

FORREST:

Mommy says stupid is as stupid does.

Jenny puts her hand out toward Forrest. Forrest reaches over

and shakes her hand.

JENNY:

I'm Jenny.

FORREST:

I'm Forrest Gump. Forrest Gump.

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