Rebel Without a Cause Page #3

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JUDY:

I'll never get close to anybody.

RAY:

Some kids stomped a man on Twelfth

Street, Judy.

JUDY:

You know where they picked me up!

Twelfth Street! I wasn't even near

there!

RAY:

Would you like to go home if we can

arrange it?

(no answer; to WOMAN OFFICER)

Did you notify the parents?

WOMAN OFFICER:

She wouldn't give me their number.

RAY:

What's your number, Judy? We'll

see if your Dad will come and get you.

JUDY looks up hopefully.

RAY:

Unless you really don't want to go

home.

(silence)

Would you rather stay here?

Camera moves close on JUDY. She looks up and speaks very

quietly.

JUDY:

Lexington 05549.

The wail of a siren is heard. JUDY looks off through the

glass wall toward JIM. RAY is heard dialing.

Med. shot. JIM's bench. JIM sits with his head back, eyes

closed. As the siren mounts louder, JIM opens his mouth and

imitates it--a long, forlorn wail.

Med. shot, PLATO and NEGRO WOMAN. PLATO smiles faintly and

moves out toward JIM, NEGRO WOMAN following. Camera pans

with them. PLATO sits by JIM. She stands over them. JIM's

wailing continues.

Med. shot. JIM, PLATO, NEGRO WOMAN. An OFFICER moves into

shot.

OFFICER:

Hey!

JIM continues for a moment.

OFFICER:

(continuing)

Hey! That's enough static out of you.

JIM:

Want me to imitate a stupid cop?

OFFICER:

Cut it out now. I'm warning you.

JIM:

Yes, ma'am.

The OFFICER moves out. The NEGRO WOMAN bends over PLATO who

is shivering violently.

NEGRO WOMAN:

You shivering, John? You cold?

PLATO shakes his head. JIM notices him.

JIM:

Want my jacket?

PLATO looks up at JIM.

JIM:

(continuing)

You want my jacket? It's warm.

PLATO wants it but shakes his head "no."

Full shot. JUDY's office. RAY and JUDY seated as before.

JUDY is still gazing through the glass.

RAY:

Your mother will be down in a few

minutes, Judy--

JUDY:

(clearing)

What?

RAY:

Your mother will be down in a few

minutes.

JUDY:

(startled)

My mother?

RAY signals to a WOMAN OFFICER just outside and leads JUDY

to the door.

Outside door as RAY turns JUDY over to the WOMAN OFFICER.

RAY:

She's being called for.

JUDY:

You said you'd call my father.

RAY:

Goodbye, Judy. Take it easy.

JUDY doesn't answer. RAY goes back inside as camera leads

the WOMAN OFFICER and JUDY past JIM's bench. Camera stops

on JIM, PLATO and the NEGRO WOMAN. JIM stares at JUDY and

whistles but gets no reaction. GENE enters and comes to the

NEGRO WOMAN.

GENE:

John Crawford?

NEGRO WOMAN:

Yes, sir.

GENE:

Come with me, John.

PLATO rises and goes with GENE, the NEGRO WOMAN following.

JIM is alone. He closes his eyes, throws his head back and

gives another siren wail as camera moves close on his face.

MOTHER (O.S.)

Jim!

JIM looks up suddenly, scared. Then he smiles mysteriously

and staggers to his feet.

Low angle. Tight three. JIM's parents and grandma framed

in the doorway, frozen. They are all dressed in evening

clothes. The MOTHER is a very chic but rather hard-faced

woman. The FATHER is an unfeathered man. The GRANDMA is

the smallest, also very chic and very bright-eyed.

Med. shot. JIM as he faces them.

JIM:

Happy Easter.

Tight shot. The family.

MOTHER:

Where were you tonight? They

called us at the club and I got the

fright of my life!

Silence.

FATHER:

Where were you tonight, Jimbo?

Close shot. JIM. He says nothing.

Close shot. FATHER laughing uncomfortably.

Med. shot. JIM.

JIM:

You think I'm funny?

JIM turns suddenly and walks to the glass wall of the office

behind which PLATO, the NEGRO WOMAN and GENE are visible.

He looks through the glass partition which separates him

from PLATO.

JIM:

(continuing)

Why didn't you take my jacket?

Inside office. JIM is seen through the glass. He moves

away. PLATO is still shivering, cracking his knuckles.

GENE:

Do you know why you shot those

puppies, John?

(silence)

Is that what they call you or do

you have a nickname?

PLATO:

(a murmur)

Plato.

NEGRO WOMAN:

You talk to the man nice now, hear?

He's going to help you.

PLATO:

Nobody can help me.

GENE:

Can you tell me why you killed the

puppies, Plato?

PLATO:

No, sir. I just went next door to

look at them like I always do.

They were nursing on their mother

and I did it. I guess I'm just no

good?

GENE:

What do you think's going to

happen, you do things like that?

PLATO:

I don't know. End up in the

electric chair?

GENE:

Where did you get the gun?

PLATO:

In my mother's drawer.

NEGRO WOMAN:

She keep it to protect herself, sir.

She scared without a man in the house.

GENE:

Where's your mother tonight, Plato?

PLATO:

She's away.

NEGRO WOMAN:

Seems like she's always going

somewhere. She got a sister in

Chicago and she go for the holiday.

She says her sister is all the

family she has.

GENE:

Where's your father?

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