Rebel Without a Cause Page #11

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GUIDE:

You think you're tough? I got a

son twice your size and I can still

handle him.

LECTURER:

Don't lose control, Mr. Jamison. I

think if we just explain--

GUIDE:

Explain to these? They think they

own the world!

CRUNCH:

The world is round!

MIL:

The world is flat!

COOKIE:

All the world's a stage!

There is wild laughter from the kids as they close around

the GUIDE and start edging him away, up the steps toward the

Planetarium balcony.

KIDS:

The world goes round the sun!

Goodbye proud world!

I got the world on a string!

The world's my oyster!

Hey! A fish-eater! Brain food.

They are gone. The LECTURER looks after them then comes to

JIM. JIM looks down at his shirt. There are spots of blood.

PLATO opens it, spits on a handkerchief and starts to wipe

the blood away.

LECTURER:

(smiling wanly, to JIM)

Sometimes the world is too much

with us, isn't it, son? What was

the disturbance?

JIM:

Nothing.

LECTURER:

You're bleeding. Are you all right?

JIM:

I scratched my mosquito bites. I'm

fine.

LECTURER hesitates.

JIM:

I'm fine--thanks!

LECTURER goes. JIM impatiently closes his shirt.

PLATO:

Are you really going to meet them?

JIM:

Who knows. Plato?

PLATO:

What?

JIM:

What's a chickie-run?

DISSOLVE TO:

Downstairs hall. JIM's house. A single light is burning.

JIM steals in from the kitchen, peers cautiously into the

living room, then starts up the stairs. A crash is heard

above. JIM stops, undecided whether to go or stay, then

moves quickly up the stairs, no longer trying to be quiet.

Upper hall. JIM's house as JIM rises into view at the top

of stairs. He sees a figure on hands and knees mopping

something off the rug. Leaklight from the staircase dims

details. An apron is tied around the figure's waist and its

bow sticks bravely in the air.

JIM:

Mom?

The figure straightens and turns around, smiling. It is the

FATHER. He is neatly dressed in his business suit but wears

a Mary Petty apron.

FATHER:

Hiya, Jimbo.

JIM leans against the wall, shaking his head and trying not

to laugh. The FATHER laughs unhappily, trying to make it

all seem a joke.

FATHER:

You thought I was Mom?

JIM:

Yeah!

FATHER:

It's just this get-up. The girl's

out and I was bringing Mom's supper.

JIM:

(giggling)

And you dropped it?

FATHER:

(laughing too)

Yeah! Shh!

JIM:

That's funny!

FATHER:

I better clean this up before she

sees it.

He starts dabbing among the spilled dishes with a wet cloth.

JIM watches him.

JIM:

Let her see. What could happen.

The FATHER continues dabbing.

JIM:

Dad--

The FATHER looks up at him.

JIM:

Dad--don't. Don't.

JIM touches his FATHER's elbow, bringing him to his feet.

They look at each other a moment then JIM goes to his

bedroom. The FATHER goes back to mopping up the mess.

Inside JIM's room as he comes in, shuts the door and throws

himself miserably on his bed. He writhes as if the pain he

feels were physical. Outside, radios are heard in the

night--tuned to different stations. He feels under his

jacket and holds up his hand to the moonlight. There is

blood on it. He reaches up and takes his alarm clock and is

setting it as camera glides to his window and holds over the

rooftops.

Full shot. JUDY's backyard. Moonlight. JUDY stands near

camera looking up at the moon. The radios seem louder out

here. One breaks through.

ANNOUNCER:

Time now for the seven o'clock news.

Friends, the next time you go

shopping.

JUDY'S FATHER (O.S.)

Judy.

She wheels around.

Long shot. The FATHER standing erect on back porch,

silhouetted against a window.

JUDY'S FATHER

What are you wishing for, Judy?

Med. shot. JUDY. She hasn't moved.

JUDY:

(softly)

I wasn't wishing. I was looking at

the moon.

Full shot. Backyard featuring the FATHER. We see him now

as a tall and handsome man. There is something boyish and

appealing about him.

JUDY'S FATHER

(singing lightly)

"Man in the Moon, how came you

there--

Up in the sky where you are

shining--

Floating so high in the frosty

air--?

Oh, say--Man in the Moon!"--

JUDY comes forward, stands below him on the step. Her look

is adoring.

JUDY:

(astonished)

How did you know that?

JUDY'S FATHER

We used to sing it in school.

(smiles)

Don't look at me with such horror.

They had schools in those days.

JUDY:

But the same song. I think it's

fantastic!

JUDY'S FATHER

We were romantic then too--

JUDY:

Are you and Mom home tonight?

JUDY'S FATHER

No. Why?

JUDY:

Nothing, only it'd be nice to spend

an evening together for a change.

JUDY'S FATHER

With us old creeps? Come on, we

have to eat.

JUDY:

(rising)

Daddy--

He looks at her.

JUDY:

Good evening.

JUDY'S FATHER

Hi.

He turns away and goes into the house. She hesitates and

then follows. Something in the moods has changed. He has

neglected to hold the door for her.

Dining room. JUDY's house as the FATHER comes to the head

of the table and takes his seat. Three places are set.

JUDY follows. She stands above his chair, looking down at

him as he drinks his tomato juice.

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