Rebel Without a Cause Page #21

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JIM lies back with his head in JUDY's lap. She strokes his

hair and smiles at him. PLATO looks away.

JIM:

No. Seriously. What's your trouble?

PLATO hesitates a moment, then leans back, cuddling between

the two of them.

PLATO:

I don't know but whatever it is,

it's gone now. I mean I'm happy

now. Here.

JIM puts his arm under PLATO's chin.

PLATO:

I came here before.

JIM:

When was that?

PLATO:

When I was here? When I ran away.

I used to run away a lot but they

always took me back.

JIM:

Who?

PLATO:

Mom and Dad. I used to be in my

crib and I'd listen to them fight.

JIM:

You remember that far back? Boy, I

can't even remember yesterday.

JUDY:

Plato, where's your father now?

PLATO:

He's dead. He was a hero in the

China Sea.

JIM:

You told me he's a big wheel in New

York!

PLATO:

I did? Well, he might as well be

dead. What's the difference?

JUDY:

It's all right.

JIM:

Sure.

PLATO closes his eyes. JUDY hums a lullaby as she strokes

JIM's lips with a finger. He snaps at it. Then he kisses

her hand, looks at her palm. They whisper.

JIM:

(continuing)

You have a long life-line.

She takes his palm and examines it.

JUDY:

So have you.

She kisses it, holds her cheek against it.

JIM:

Ever been in a place like this before?

JUDY:

Not exactly. It's certainly huge.

JIM:

How many rooms do you think there are?

JUDY:

I don't know.

JIM:

Should we explore?

She looks at PLATO. JIM shrugs--tests to see if the boy is

awake, but there is no reaction.

Carefully, they crawl to their feet. JIM supporting PLATO's

head with his hands as they do so. JIM takes the other

blanket and covers PLATO with it. JUDY kneels on the other

side and tucks it in. They look at each other across him

and smile. Then suddenly JUDY bends down and kisses PLATO's

cheek very softly. JUDY and JIM rise.

JIM takes a candle from the candelabra and leads JUDY along

the edge of the pool to the glass doors beyond. Silence

except for their footfalls on the flagstone. In the

distance we see the doors open and the couple pass through.

When they close again, a sob comes from PLATO.

High angle closeup. PLATO lying as they left him, but his

eyes are open and he is crying. Camera booms up as PLATO

throws off the blanket and looks after them. Camera booms

higher until he is revealed as a small and lonely figure

sitting by himself. The pool echoes his weeping.

DISSOLVE TO:

Inside library. Mansion. Night. The door opens slowly and

JIM appears with the candle. JUDY lingers at the door. The

flickering light reveals a formerly lavish room, paneled in

oak. There is a tapestry couch, empty bookcases, some dim

portraits, a leather table and several chairs around a great

stone fireplace.

JIM:

Hey! Will you look at this room!

(looks behind him)

Judy?

She comes forward. JIM drips wax on the table-top and

sticks the candle on it. His hand shakes. JUDY sits on the

couch.

JIM:

(continuing)

Want to read any books? Take your

pick!

(sits beside her)

Isn't this the craziest?

JUDY:

Hi.

JIM:

Hi.

He takes her hand. She looks at him and smiles.

JIM:

(continuing)

What?

JUDY:

Your hand's all wet and it's shaky.

(kisses it)

You're so funny.

JIM:

Why?

JUDY:

I don't know--you just are.

Leaving a light for Plato. That

was nice.

JIM:

Maybe he's scared of the dark.

JUDY:

Are you?

JIM snuffs out the candle. They are left in moonlight. A

pause.

JIM:

(singing)

Here we are--

out of cigarettes--

Junior's in the nurs'ry--

See how late it gets--

JUDY:

You don't need to do that.

JIM:

There's something I should tell

you, Judy.

JUDY:

I know already. We don't have to

pretend now.

JIM:

(laughing)

What a relief!

He leans back, relaxed at last. She snuggles close to him.

JUDY:

Is this what it's like to love

somebody?

JIM:

You disappointed?

JUDY:

(mussing her hair)

Funny Jimmy. You're so clean and

you--this is silly.

JIM:

What?

JUDY:

You smell like baby powder.

JIM:

So do you.

JUDY:

I never felt so clean before.

JIM:

It's not going to be lonely, Judy.

Not for you and not for me.

JUDY:

I love somebody. All the time I've

been looking for someone to love me

and now--I love somebody. And it's

so easy. Why is it easy now?

JIM:

It is for me too.

JUDY:

I love you, Jim. I really mean it.

She kisses his lips gently and looks into his face. He

returns the kiss. Their arms go around each other.

JIM:

I mean it too.

He kisses her again--

Full shot. Road near Planetarium. MOOSE's heap crawls up

and turns left. A moment later, the police car appears and

does likewise--still holding its distance.

Full shot. The mansion as MOOSE's heap moves past on the

road below. Suddenly it stops.

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