Rebel Without a Cause Page #10

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BUZZ:

Hey, he's real abstract and different.

JIM:

I'm cute, too.

Suddenly GOON starts clucking softly like a chicken. One by

one the others pick it up. BUZZ, the last, crows. Silence.

Med. shot. The group and JIM.

JIM:

Meaning me?

BUZZ:

What?

JIM:

Chicken?

The group gives a quick, short laugh.

Med. shot. JIM as he takes off his glasses, smiles. Shakes

his head disapprovingly.

JIM:

You shouldn't call me that.

Close shot. PLATO watching anxiously.

Med. shot. BUZZ with JUDY watching above him. JIM enters

shot until he is close to BUZZ's face. He looks up at JUDY.

Camera closes in until we are tight on the three. The heads

are nearly touching.

JIM:

(softly to JUDY)

You always at ringside? You always

travel in this rank company?

BUZZ clutches JIM's hair and jerks his head up. He cracks

JIM smartly across the face with the palm of his hand.

Close shot. JUDY looking at JIM. Her eyes clear in

recognition.

Another angle. The group and JIM as JIM tears free and

comes at BUZZ, slugging. But BUZZ, with a laugh, leaps onto

the parapet and turns, the knife in his hand again. JIM

stops short. The group and PLATO move in around him.

JIM:

I thought only punks fought with

knives.

BUZZ:

Who's fighting? This is the test,

man. It's a crazy game.

HELEN:

Les jeux de courage!

Close-up. CRUNCH. He is smiling. His arms are around the

shoulders of the kids who flank him.

CRUNCH:

(wetting his lips)

Machismo. Machismo.

Med. shot. Group.

JIM:

Machismo?

BUZZ:

Somebody find him a knife.

Close shot. PLATO seen between heads of MIL and COOKIE.

COOKIE holds up a switch knife and tosses it over into the

circle.

PLATO:

Jim!

Full shot. Circle as the knife falls at JIM's feet. JIM

stoops and picks up his weapon, then faces BUZZ. Then he

springs his blade.

BUZZ:

You know the action? No cutting.

Just sticking--jab real cool.

BUZZ hops from the parapet. They begin stalking each other.

BUZZ slides his knife from hand to hand trying to hypnotize

JIM. Suddenly he pokes out and pricks JIM's shirt. The

group sighs "Ole!" JIM makes no effort at self-defense.

Silence. BUZZ pricks JIM again, "Ole!"

BUZZ:

(as he maneuvers)

What you waiting on, Toreador? I

thought you wanted some action!

JIM cuts out half-heartedly.

BUZZ:

Big brave bull. Hah! Toro! Hah!

Hah!

GOON:

Moo!

BUZZ:

Come on--Fascinate us. Impress us.

What's happening? Let's go!

JIM:

I don't want trouble.

BUZZ:

(furious suddenly)

You crud chicken! You're wasting

our time!

BUZZ viciously slaps JIM across the face. JIM lashes out

and misses. BUZZ hops back.

BUZZ:

Yeah--that's pretty close. How

about a little closer, Toreador?

Cut off a button and you get to

join the club!

Outside entrance of parking lot. A uniformed GUIDE of

middle-age stares past camera. Cries of "Ole," are heard in

the distance.

GUIDE:

(turning)

Mr. Minton! Mr. Minton! Trouble!

The LECTURER appears running. He stops short at what he

sees, and blinks in the sunlight.

GUIDE:

Look. There's your audience.

LECTURER:

Oh, I don't think so. From the

school?

Inside circle. JIM is covered with sweat and about to drop.

He is getting the worst of it, still refusing to defend

himself.

Close shot. PLATO. He is looking on in despair.

GROUP:

Ole! Ole!

Suddenly, with a cry, PLATO pushes through.

Inside circle as PLATO comes through. His eyes are wild.

He holds a tire chain in his hand.

MIL:

Buzzy! Look out! He's got a chain!

BUZZ:

(smiling as he sees PLATO)

Hey! Chicken Little!

BUZZ trips PLATO quickly and kicks him while he's down.

CRUNCH grabs the chain.

JIM:

All right--you want it, you got it!

Suddenly JIM transforms. He bores forward expertly--pricks

BUZZ again and again. Cries of Ole greet him. BUZZ is

surprised.

Full shot. Group. We hear only the breathing of the

combatants. Beyond we see the GUIDE approaching swiftly.

The LECTURER trails at a safe distance.

Closeup. CRUNCH. He looks up. His smile fades.

CRUNCH:

Honk. Let's split.

Group as they look off and see the GUIDE and LECTURER

approach. BUZZ and JIM are both breathing hard. PLATO is

getting to his feet.

BUZZ:

Split for what? Couple old poopheads?

He folds up his knife and puts it away. So does JIM.

JIM:

You satisfied or you want more?

BUZZ:

How 'bout you? Say the word and

you're cold, Jack--you're dead.

JUDY:

Buzzie--we better get out of here.

BUZZ:

What's eating you, Judy? You want

him alive?

JIM:

Where can we meet?

BUZZ:

Know the Millertown bluff?

COOKIE:

The bluff, Buzz! That's dangerous

up there.

BUZZ:

Draw him a picture, Chicken Little.

Eight o'clock. Cookie, you call

Moose and get a couple cars. We're

going to have us some real kicks.

Little chickie-run. You been on

chickie-runs before?

JIM:

Sure--that's all I do.

The GUIDE bursts in among them. The LECTURER remains on the

fringe.

GUIDE:

All right--all of you--start moving!

JUDY:

You mean l'il ol' us? What's the

matter with the nice man?

GUIDE:

Don't clown with me.

BUZZ:

Why'nt you go suck on something sweet?

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