Rebel Without a Cause Page #12

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JUDY:

(quietly, afraid)

Didn't you forget something?

JUDY'S FATHER

What?

JUDY doesn't answer, but leans down and kisses him quickly

on the lips.

JUDY'S FATHER

(continuing; shocked)

What's the matter with you?

JUDY freezes, frightened. He collects himself a little.

JUDY'S FATHER

(continuing)

You're too old for that kind of

stuff, kiddo. I thought you

stopped doing that long ago.

JUDY:

(very hurt)

I didn't want to stop.

The mother enters briskly from another part of the house--an

attractive, brittle woman of thirty-five.

JUDY'S MOTHER

Didn't want to stop what?

JUDY'S FATHER

Nothing.

JUDY:

I was talking to Dad.

JUDY'S FATHER

I didn't kiss her so it's a big thing.

JUDY'S MOTHER

(calling to kitchen)

Bertha! You can serve the souffle!

(to FATHER)

Fish souffle.

(to JUDY)

You don't have to stand there,

darling. Drink your tomato juice.

JUDY slides into her chair reluctantly and unfolds her napkin.

JUDY:

I guess I just don't understand

anything.

JUDY'S FATHER

I'm tired, Judy. I'd like to

change the subject.

JUDY:

Why?

JUDY'S FATHER

I'd like to, that's all. Girls

your age don't do that. You need

an explanation?

JUDY:

(very low)

Girls don't love their father?

Since when? Since I got to be

sixteen?

She half-rises to kiss him again.

JUDY'S FATHER

Stop it now! Sit down!

Suddenly the FATHER slaps her. Even as he does it he is as

stunned as JUDY. The mother stops eating. She has never

seen such a display and is shocked. He tries to control

himself by buttering a piece of bread. There is a terrible

silence into which BEAU enters in his pajamas. He runs to

his FATHER's chair, then halts--looking from face to face.

The FATHER puts an arm around him, hugs him almost savagely.

JUDY'S FATHER

(thickly)

Hi, rascal.

BEAU:

(hushed)

Hi.

JUDY rises, weeping.

JUDY:

May I please be excused?

She starts out. The FATHER rises and follows after her.

JUDY'S FATHER

(softly)

Hey, hey, Glamorpuss. I'm sorry.

She leaves the room, interrupting the joke he was going to

make. He turns back to the table and sits down. The MOTHER

rises and comes to him.

JUDY'S FATHER

(continuing)

I don't know what to do. All of a

sudden she's a problem.

The mother stands behind his chair. She tips his head back

against her body and kneads his neck and shoulders.

JUDY'S MOTHER

She'll outgrow it, dear. It's just

the age.

BEAU:

(in a sudden burst)

The atomic age!

The door slams.

JUDY'S MOTHER

(kissing her

husband's hair)

It's the age when nothing fits.

Inside JIM's room. We see him lying on his bed as before.

His eyes are open. The alarm clock goes off. JIM starts as

if shot, then stops the wild ringing. The time is seven-

forty-five. He makes no move to leave the bed. There is a

light tap on the door, then it opens and the FATHER is

there, seen in light from the hall and still wearing the apron.

FATHER:

You awake?

JIM:

Yes.

FATHER:

Listen--I took a steak out of the

freezer. I thought we could have a

real old-fashioned stag party--just

the two of us, what do you say?

JIM:

I'm not hungry.

The FATHER turns away.

JIM:

Hey--I want to ask you something.

FATHER:

(happily)

Shoot, Jimbo.

JIM:

Suppose you knew that you had to do

something very dangerous--where you

have to prove something you need to

know--a question of honor. Would

you do it?

FATHER:

(laughing)

Is there some kind of trick answer?

JIM:

What would you do, Dad?

FATHER:

(evading)

I wouldn't do anything hasty.

Let's get a little light on the

subject.

The FATHER turns on the light and looks at JIM who is now

sitting on the edge of the bed. He removes his jacket and

the bloody shirt is revealed. The FATHER stares.

JIM:

Blood.

FATHER:

How'd that happen! What kind of

trouble you in?

JIM:

The kind we've been talking about.

Can you answer me now?

FATHER:

Listen--nobody should make a snap

decision--This isn't something you

just--we ought to consider all the

pros and cons--

JIM:

We don't have time.

FATHER:

We'll make time. Where's some

paper. We'll make a list and if

we're still stuck then we ought to

get some advice--

He goes out, to the study next door. JIM rises.

JIM:

What can you do when you have to be

a man?

FATHER:

Well, now--

JIM:

Just give me a direct answer!

(pause)

You going to stop me from going, Dad?

FATHER:

You know I never stop you from

anything. Believe me--you're at a

wonderful age. In ten years you'll

look back on this and wish you were

a kid again.

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