Groundhog Day Page #12

INT. THE BUICK - CONTINUOUS

Phil swerves in and out of oncoming traffic. Gus is starting

to look a little green.

PHIL:

So many rules --

-47-

RALPH:

You can say that again.

PHIL:

"Don't do this--"

EXT. THE STREET - CONTINUOUS

The Buick demolishes a parked car.

PHIL (V.O.)

"Don't do that -- "

He mows down a row of parking meters.

POLICE CAR:

It comes screaming around a corner in hot pursuit of the Buick

INT. THE BUICK - CONTINUOUS

Ralph hears the siren and looks back at the police car.

All right! Try and stop us, you

mothers !

PHIL:

No more rules!

RALPH:

No more rules!

EXT. THE STREET - CONTINUOUS

A second police car joins the chase.

RALPH:

(looking back)

That's two!

PHIL:

Having a good time?

RALPH:

I'm having a great time!

Phil speeds up to a hundred miles and hour. Gus is looking

even worse from the liquor and the motion of the car.

GUS:

Hey, uh --

PHIL:

Phil.

-48-

GUS:

Yeah, Phil-- like the groundhog.

PHIL:

Right.

GUS:

Hey, Phil? How're we going to

get out of this?

THEIR POV - THE INTERSECTION AHEAD

Two police cars with lights flashing are parked sideways,

completely blocking the road. Officers stand in the roadway,

motioning for Phil to stop.

PHIL:

(CALMLY)

Gus, you're just going to have to

trust me on this one.

He tromps the gas pedal to the floor. Gus's eyes go wide with

terror.

The police dive out of the way.

PHIL AND RALPH:

Yahooooo!

THEIR POV - THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD

The Buick crashes head on into one of the police cars.

BLACK OUT:

C LOSE UP - CLOCK

The time changes from 5:59 to 6:00. The radio starts playing

"I Got You, Babe."

Phil sits up suddenly and looks around, completely amazed. He

is in his room at the bed and breakfast, everything exactly the

same as before. He hops out of bed and quickly examines

himself for signs of physical injury. Nothing. The music ends

and the two deej ays come on.

DEEJAY:

Okay, campers, rise and shine,

and don't forget your booties

because it's COOOLD out there

today.

Phil talks out loud along with them.

PHIL AND SIDEKICK

It's cold out there everyday.

What is this-- Miami Beach?

-49-

The deejays laughs. Phil laughs, too, exhilirated at having

survived the car wreck, still very confused and perplexed, but

just beginning to see the possibilities of his unique

situation. He starts dressing in a hurry.

CUT TO:

INT. BREAKFAST ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Phil rushes into the breakfast room just as Mrs. Lancaster

comes out of the kitchen with the coffee. Everything is

exactly the same as before.

MRS. LANCASTER

W o u l d you--

Phil interrupts, answering all her questions before she even

asks them.

PHIL:

(URGENTLY)

Yes, I would like some coffee;

the weather is going to be cold

and overcast with blizzard

conditions moving in later today;

and yes, I will be staying an

extra day.

MRS. LANCASTER

(BAFFLED)

Why thank you.

PHIL:

Mrs. Lancaster, has anyone been

around here looking for me this

morning? Maybe a state official,

blue coat, hat, gun, nightstick,

badge, driving a late-model Ford

br Chevy, black and white with

bub ble lights on top--

MRS. LANCASTER

(SHOCKED)

No, no one like that-- I .don't--

Will they be?

PHIL:

(greatly relieved)

Apparently not.

Phil gooses her, grabs a sweet roll, and heads for the door,

starting to believe now that he can truly do anything he wants

to.

CUT TO:

-50-

EXT. BOARDING HOUSE - DAWN

Phil stops on the steps, puts on his coat and gloves and again

joins the traffic heading toward Gobbler's Knob.

EXT. MAIN STREET - MOMENTS LATER

Phil passes the old bum, ignoring him as usual.

NED (O.C.)

Hey, Phil!

Phil slips off his glove as Ned Ryerson lumbers toward him.

NED:

Phil! Phil Connors!

PHIL:

Ned! Ned Ryerson! Ned the Head!

Before Ned can say another word, Phil SLUGS HIM. Ned goes

down, Phil puts his glove back on and keeps walking.

Phil deftly avoids the slushy pothole he stepped in before. A

PEDESTRIAN walking behind him steps right into it.

CUT TO:

EXT . GOBBLER'S KNOB - LATER

Phil is passing through the crowd on his way to the press area

when he notices NANCY, the girl he met at the hotel bar, and

stops to talk to her.

PHIL:

You here to see the groundhog?

She gives him a look. It's obvious she's never seen him

before.

NANCY:

Can you think of another reason

anybody'd be out here at dawn on

a freezing day?

PHIL:

What's your name?

NANCY:

Nancy Taylor. And you are--

PHIL:

Where'd you go to high school?

-51-

NANCY:

What is this?

PHIL:

(PLAYFUL)

High school?

She really doesn't know what to make of Phil but she decides to

play along.

NANCY:

Lincoln High school. In

Pittsburgh. Who are you?

PHIL:

Who was your twelfth grade

English teacher?

NANCY:

Are you kidding?

PHIL:

I'm waiting.

NANCY:

.Mrs. Walsh.

PHIL:

Walsh. Nancy, Lincoln, Walsh.

NANCY:

Is this some kind of come-on?

PHIL:

I'm not really sure. We'll have

to see.

Phil walks off and joins Rita at their camera position.

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