Rebel Without a Cause Page #5

---

JIM:

I just get so--

(fighting tears)

Boy, sometimes the temperature goes

way up.

RAY:

(suddenly gentle)

Okay. Okay. Let it out.

JIM starts crying.

RAY:

You feel like you want to blow your

wheels right now?

JIM:

All the time! I don't know what

gets into me--but I keep looking

for trouble and I always--I swear

you better lock me up. I'm going

to smash somebody--I know it.

RAY:

Try the desk.

JIM smashes his fist against it, letting loose for a moment.

RAY watches, then sits near him.

RAY:

That why you moved from the last

town? 'Cause you were in trouble?

You can talk about it if you want

to--I know about it anyway.

Routine check.

JIM:

And they think they are protecting

my by moving.

RAY:

You were getting a good start in

the wrong direction back there.

Why did you do it?

JIM:

Mess that kid up?

RAY just nods.

JIM:

(continuing)

He called me chicken.

RAY:

And your folks didn't understand?

JIM:

They never do.

RAY:

So then you moved?

JIM:

They think I'll make friends if we

move. Just move and everything'll

be roses and sunshine.

RAY:

But you don't think that's a solution.

JIM is silent; he picks at his nails.

RAY:

(continuing)

Things pretty tough for you at home?

JIM:

She eats him alive and he takes it.

JIM stares at his family through hole in door.

JIM:

What a zoo!

RAY:

What?

JIM:

A zoo. He always wants to be my

pal, you know? But how can I give

him anything when he's--I mean I

love him and I don't want to hurt

him--but I don't know what to do

anymore except maybe die.

RAY:

Pretty mixed up?

JIM:

If he could--

RAY:

"If he could" what? You mean your

father?

JIM:

I mean if he had the guts to knock

Mom cold once I bet she'd be happy

and I bet she'd stop picking. They

make mush out of him. Just mush.

One thing I know is I never want to

be like him.

RAY:

(interrupts)

Chicken?

JIM:

I bet you see right through me,

don't you?

RAY shrugs.

JIM:

How can anyone grow up in this circus?

RAY:

You got me, Jim--but they do. Want

some water?

JIM:

(as RAY gets a cup of

water from cooler)

Boy--if I had one day when I didn't

have to be all confused and ashamed

of everything--or I felt I belonged

some place.

RAY:

(giving him water)

Here. Look, will you do something

for me? If the pot starts boiling

again, will you come and see me

before you get yourself in a jam?

Even if you just want to talk--come

in and shoot the breeze. It's

easier sometimes than talking to

your folks.

JIM:

Okay--

RAY:

Any time--day or night. You calmed

down enough to go back now?

JIM:

(smiling)

You serious?

RAY smiles and opens the door.

RAY's office as JIM comes towards his MOTHER and forces

himself to kiss her.

JIM:

I'm sorry.

MOTHER:

All right, darling.

She rises and takes his arm. They start out through the

door into the hall, followed by GRANDMA and FATHER.

GRANDMA:

(to RAY)

This was all very unfortunate, but

he made a mistake and he's sorry--

so we're not going to have any more

trouble. He's always been a lovely

boy--

JIM:

Lovely! Grandma--if you tell

another lie you're going to turn to

stone.

RAY:

Luck, Jim. Don't forget.

FATHER:

(offering RAY three cigars)

Have some cigars.

RAY:

No thanks, I don't smoke.

FATHER:

Go on--Give 'em to your friends.

RAY:

No--thanks, very much, Mr. Stark.

MOTHER:

Frank--he doesn't want any.

JIM grins at RAY who nods. They all leave. RAY looking

after them, shakes his head and lights a cigarette. We see

JIM and his family pass through the main door. Waiting to

enter, in the custody of some uniformed police, are BUZZ and

the kids we saw at the opening, sullen and truculent. As

they march into the lobby and JIM grows smaller in the

distance, the music comes up and out.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN.

Low angle. Alley. Morning. A rabbit comes running down

the alley followed by a group of young kids, screaming with

pleasure.

As camera pans with the group, the littlest, a boy of five,

stops near us looking after the disappearing group. The

shouts of the children wane.

JUDY rushes out from a backyard beyond him. She is carrying

school books and a bag lunch. She wears a polo coat against

the winter wind.

JUDY:

(yelling)

Beau!

The boy, who is her brother, BEAU, looks up but doesn't move.

JUDY stops at her gate. A car careens down the alley, past

him.

Long shot. JUDY and BEAU seen through a window in JIM's

house. JIM is in f.g. looking out through the curtains. He

smiles.

JUDY:

(yelling)

What are you trying to do, get

yourself killed?

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote