Rebel Without a Cause Page #22

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Inside MOOSE's heap. CRUNCH looks off, curious.

GOON:

What you stopping for?

CRUNCH:

You scam a car up there?

MOTHER:

So what?

CRUNCH:

Nobody's lived in that hunk of junk

for five-six years.

He switches on the spotlight. It illuminates JIM's heap.

CRUNCH:

Well, what do you know! I feel a

kick coming on!

He turns off all the lights and gets out. The others follow.

Med. shot. Police car. It has halted. One of the officers

gets out and draws his gun. The other makes radio contact

in a low voice:

OFFICER:

This is Unit 17. Unit 17.

RADIO:

Come in, Unit 17.

OFFICER:

We just zeroed three kids in a heap.

Crest Drive and Observatory. Looks

like house-breaking. Send us some

help. They may be armed. Over.

Close shot. PLATO asleep on the blanket. Only a single

candle burns in the candelabra. The same low whistles heard

earlier come from all around him and rise in volume.

Suddenly his eyes open. He doesn't move, but he has come

suddenly awake.

Low shot. PLATO lying in f.g. Next to his face are a pair

of booted feet. He looks up. Camera pans up to show CRUNCH.

He is smiling. He holds a tire chain in his hand which he

swings.

CRUNCH:

Good morning.

Full shot. The swimming pool. GOON and MOOSE are behind

CRUNCH. They too are armed with tire chains. They all

laugh. PLATO rolls away from them and runs toward the deep

end of the pool.

CRUNCH:

Moose! Take the steps! Goon! The

other side.

The boys run to their assigned places. PLATO sees no exit.

He flings himself down the ladder and into the pool. He

feints this way and that, the boys responding as if they

were fencing. CRUNCH swings down the ladder and his boots

make a loud report as they hit the pool. MOOSE advances

down the steps at the shallow end. GOON climbs onto the

pool bottom at the opposite side. The feinting continues,

wordlessly, as the circle closes around PLATO. The only

sounds are the stamping of their boots as they try to

distract him from side to side, and the animalistic grunts

they make to scare him. Suddenly PLATO sees an opening and

plunges past MOOSE, pushing him over, and stumbles up the

steps.

CRUNCH:

Come on! Let's make it!

They stream out of the pool after PLATO. He reaches the

glass doors first, streaks though, and bangs them shut

behind him.

Traveling shot. Arcade. PLATO's face is visible only when

the moonlight strikes him through the passing windows. The

sound of running steps behind him.

Full shot. Main room. A pattern of moonlight on the bare

floor as PLATO dashes in and through it. He falls over a

piece of furniture and comes scurrying in to camera, wheels

around on hands and knees to face the door. The boys plunge

into the moonlit square and stop. PLATO tries not to

breathe. A match is struck. CRUNCH looks around, but can

see nothing. That match goes out. The boys start up the

stairs, whispering. Immediately, PLATO crawls forward,

under the piano. He hears a murmur of voices from behind

the oak door of the library--next to the piano. He moves to

it stealthily.

Close shot, PLATO at door listening through it, on hands and

knees. His confusion mounts. He shakes his head to clear

it. Then, suddenly he rises and tries the knob. The door

is locked. He beats on it.

PLATO:

Save me!

The boys run across the room. As they hit the moonlit

square. PLATO spins and fires. Somebody drops and starts

moaning. JIM opens the door.

PLATO:

(shrieks)

What you run out on me for! What

you leave me alone for?

JIM:

Plato!

There is a rush of boys coming forward.

PLATO:

(with hate)

I don't want you for my father!

JIM:

Your father!

PLATO fires at JIM. JIM leaps at PLATO with a cry and

knocks him down.

JIM:

(in rage)

You crazy nut! You crazy, crazy nut!

PLATO:

(screaming)

Get away from me!

He rolls away from JIM and runs to the main door.

JUDY:

Jim!

Main door, from inside. PLATO falls upon it, fumbles with

the bolt and swings the door wide. He steps out into the

waning moonlight and we see him running down the lawn. JIM

rushes into the doorway and stops short.

Full shot. Mansion. The OFFICERS are moving away from us

toward it. PLATO runs wildly toward them.

OFFICER:

(sharply)

Halt!

PLATO stops, confused.

OFFICER:

(continuing)

Come here.

JIM runs out on the promenade and starts over the balustrade.

JIM:

Plato!

Close shot. PLATO. His face is working desperately in

growing panic.

OFFICER (O.S.)

Come here, son.

PLATO:

No!

JIM (O.S.)

Plato!

OFFICER (O.S.)

Just walk over here quietly now--

and there won't be any trouble.

PLATO runs out.

Close shot. JIM as he screams.

JIM:

Plato!

Full shot. Main doorway as JUDY rushes out, followed by

GOON and MOOSE. They all stop dead at the balustrade.

JUDY:

Jim! Watch out!

Reverse shot. Lawn. JIM seen in f.g. PLATO bolting toward

the woods in the direction of the planetarium. The officers

have both hit the ground in the distance. They fire again.

JIM hesitates a moment, then rushes after PLATO. The

officers fire again.

Moving shot. JIM as he runs after PLATO.

Med. shot. OFFICERS as they rise to their feet.

FIRST OFFICER:

Take the house! I'll head him off.

Full shot. Front of mansion. JUDY flies down the stairs

and rushes past camera.

OFFICER (O.S.)

Halt! Halt!

Prowl car. Another part of town (Process). RAY is driving.

JIM's father is beside him. The mother is in the back seat.

RADIO:

--located at Summit Drive--the

Planetarium.

RAY:

(snapping on mike)

The planetarium? One kid inside--

five housebreaking in area. Will

proceed.

(turning to JIM's parents)

There are some kids in trouble--

you'll have to go with me.

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