Rebel Without a Cause Page #4

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PLATO is silent.

NEGRO WOMAN:

They not together, sir. We don't

see him in a long time now.

GENE:

Do you hear from him, son?

PLATO looks up as JIM and his family move into the next

office. JIM smiles at PLATO, who returns it feebly, then

looks away--embarrassed.

GENE:

You know if the boy ever talked to

a psychiatrist?

PLATO:

(smiling a bit)

Head-shrinker?

NEGRO WOMAN:

(laughing)

Oh, Mrs. Crawford don't believe in

them!

GENE:

Well maybe she better start.

Other office. JIM, his parents, GRANDMA and RAY are

gathered in the small room. JIM is humming THE RIDE OF THE

VALKRYIES to himself as if he had absolutely no interest in

what is happening around him. RAY suspects this is

something more than mere disinterest, so lets the humming go

on, in order to discover its real purpose. GRANDMA watches

everything like a tennis match, reacting with soft little

sounds of terror or astonishment or sympathy. No one pays

any attention to her. For a moment no one talks. RAY

watches JIM as he hums. Then the FATHER shakes his head and

looks up.

FATHER:

I don't see what's so bad about

taking a little drink.

RAY:

You don't?

FATHER:

No. I definitely don't. I did the

sa--

RAY:

He's a minor, Mr. Stark, and it

looks to me like he had more than a

little drink.

FATHER:

(chuckling)

Say, listen--

MOTHER:

(to JIM:
in intimate,

half-humorous disapproval)

Jim--don't hum.

JIM merely rolls his eyes at her, then away--but continues

his humming.

FATHER:

I guess I cut pretty loose in my

day too.

MOTHER:

Really, Frank? When was that?

FATHER:

Listen--can't you wait till we get

home?

RAY:

Whoa! Whoa! I know you're a

little upset but--

FATHER:

Sorry.

RAY:

What about you, Jim? Got anything

to say for yourself?

JIM stops humming and shrugs.

RAY:

Not interested, huh?

JIM shakes his head.

MOTHER:

Can't you answer? What's the

matter with you anyhow?

FATHER:

He's just loaded, honey.

MOTHER:

I was talking to Jim.

FATHER:

(to RAY)

Let me just explain to you--we just

moved here, y'understand? The kid

has no friends yet and--

JIM:

Tell him why we moved here.

FATHER:

Hold it, Jim.

JIM:

You can't protect me.

FATHER:

(to JIM)

You mind if I try? You have to

slam the door in my face?

(to RAY)

I try to get to him--what happens?

(to JIM)

Don't I give you everything you

want? A bicycle--you get a bicycle.

A car--

JIM:

You buy me many things. Thank you.

FATHER:

Not just buy! You hear all this

talk about not lovely your kids

enough. We give you love and

affection, don't we?

Silence; JIM is fighting his emotion but his eyes grow wet.

FATHER:

Then what is it? I can't even

touch you anymore but you pull away.

I want to understand you. Why'd

you get drunk? You must have had a

reason.

JIM stares straight ahead, trying not to listen.

FATHER:

Was it because we went to that

party?

(silence)

You know what kind of drunken

brawls those parties turn into--

it's no place for kids.

MOTHER:

A minute ago you said you didn't

care if he drinks.

GRANDMA:

He said a little drink.

JIM:

(exploding)

You're tearing me apart!

MOTHER:

What?

JIM:

Stop tearing me apart! You say one

thing and he says another and then

everybody changes back--

MOTHER:

That's a fine way to behave!

GRANDMA:

(smiling)

Well you know who he takes after!

RAY:

Outside, Jim. Come outside.

RAY pushes him out the door firmly, and into office vacated

by PLATO and GENE.

RAY:

Excuse us a minute?

FATHER:

(very overwrought)

Sure. Sure.

GENE's office. RAY and JIM alone.

JIM:

Someone should put poison in her

epsom salts.

RAY:

Grandma?

No answer. JIM turns away from RAY.

JIM:

Get lost.

RAY:

Hang loose, boy. I'm warning you.

JIM:

Wash up and go home.

RAY:

Big tough character. You don't kid

me, pal. How come you're not

wearing your boots?

Suddenly JIM flings himself at RAY who deftly flips him past

and drops him near the desk.

RAY:

(continuing)

Too bad you didn't connect. You

could have gone to Juvenile Hall.

That's what you want, isn't it?

JIM:

No.

RAY:

Sure it is. You want to bug us

till we have to lock you up. Why?

JIM:

Leave me alone.

RAY:

No.

JIM:

I don't know why--!

RAY:

Go on--don't give me that. Someone

giving you hard looks?

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