Rebel Without a Cause Page #9

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Long shot. JUDY and group. Seen from PLATO's angle through

windshield. They are standing idly in a loose line near

BUZZ's car. They are looking back toward Planetarium.

Med. shot. Front of bus, seen from within. PLATO turns

suddenly and pushes his way past the kids who are boarding.

PLATO:

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Full shot. Parking lot. Bus in f.g. Beyond it JUDY and

the group are visible. PLATO squeezes out.

MALE TEACHER:

John, where you going?

PLATO:

I forgot something. I'll get a hitch.

PLATO moves quickly past the teacher who climbs in. The

door slams, the bus moves away. PLATO stops and looks after

it. The last cars are clearing the lot. Only JIM's and

BUZZ's remain. PLATO looks at the small, waiting group.

Med. shot. The group seen from the rear. PLATO in the

distance facing them.

BUZZ:

What you looking at?

Med. shot. PLATO wild-eyed with fear.

PLATO:

Nothing.

He runs off, camera panning with him. His goal is the

Planetarium Entrance, visible beyond. He races toward it

frantically.

Med. shot. The group looking off after PLATO. BUZZ,

nearest camera, pulls a switch-knife from his pocket and

pops the long blade open. JUDY stares at it, then looks up

at BUZZ apprehensively. CRUNCH sits down on the bumper and

lights a cigarette.

Display lobby. Planetarium as PLATO rushes in, out of

breath, stops and looks around. In distance he sees JIM

leaning over the pendulum pit, smoking quietly. PLATO

doesn't move. JIM hasn't even looked up.

PLATO:

(screaming as if he

were yelling "fire!")

What's your name!

JIM:

Jim. What's yours?

PLATO:

(a little quieter)

Plato. It's a nickname.

JIM nods. PLATO goes over to him, camera following, until

they are close together, both leaning over the rail.

PLATO:

Listen, I told you not to fool with

them. Now they're waiting for you.

JIM:

I know. That's why I came back.

PLATO:

You scared?

JIM:

I just don't want trouble.

PLATO:

He has a knife.

JIM:

I saw it. Gee, look at that thing

swing, will you? Do you think it

never stops?

PLATO:

No. It's perpetual motion.

JIM:

Oh, I bet some little guy comes in

here at night and pushes it. Go-

go-go!

PLATO walks cautiously to the door and starts outside,

camera following.

Long shot. Kids (corner of Observatory) with PLATO leaning

out of door, seeing them, pulling back quickly.

Inside display lobby as PLATO pulls back through the door.

JIM seems to have disappeared. PLATO stares around frightened.

PLATO:

Jim?

JIM is looking at another exhibit whose mechanical voice is

heard.

JIM:

I'm here.

PLATO:

(coming with him)

They're still there!

JIM nods. They watch the exhibit a while longer.

PLATO:

Jim--Do you think when the end of

the world comes it'll be at night?

JIM:

No. In the morning.

PLATO looks up questioning. JIM smiles and shrugs.

JIM:

I just have a feeling.

They start moving, camera leading.

PLATO:

If you don't want trouble, I know a

place we can go--

JIM looks up at him.

PLATO:

It's a big mansion and we could

sneak around there and they

wouldn't even know. You could be

safe--

They turn a corner quickly.

Doors to balcony (from inside) as JIM and PLATO come to them

from behind camera, fling the doors open and step outside.

Balcony as JIM and PLATO come onto it, lean on the parapet.

PLATO points off.

PLATO:

There it is.

High long shot. Mansion. (Matte). It is falling into

elegant ruin, casting long afternoon shadows on the great

lawns and promenades.

Closeup PLATO looking urgently at JIM.

PLATO:

Should we go?

Two shot. JIM and PLATO. PLATO's back is to us. JIM looks

past him and sees something.

JIM:

(quietly)

The shadows are getting long.

PLATO turns to look too.

Long high shot. Parking lot. JIM's car is where he left it.

Into the driveway, like logs driven before a sea, the

shadows of the waiting kids appear and advance until the

kids themselves come into view. They pause there a moment,

then look up.

HELEN:

(smiling)

Le soleil tombe dans la mer.

Laughter. The kids scatter along the wall at the foot of

the balcony stairs. BUZZ goes to JIM's car, knife in hand,

and stands silently.

Low angle. Two shot. JIM and PLATO staring down from

balcony parapet. At last JIM moves out past camera.

Low angle. Long shot. JIM and PLATO. JUDY in f.g. The

two boys walk down the stairs. Camera pans with them as

they reach parking lot level and start walking past other

members of the group.

Traveling shot. JIM and PLATO coming forward.

Dolly shot. BUZZ from JIM's angle. As camera moves in

toward BUZZ standing alone at the car, he suddenly bends

down and slashes JIM's tire. Camera stops. There is the

hiss of air escaping. BUZZ straightens and smiles past camera.

Close shot. JIM inhaling sharply in shock and suppressed

anger.

Full shot over JIM's car. Group in b.g. motionless. JIM

and PLATO approach the car. JIM stops and looks down. BUZZ

stands smiling and puts away the knife.

Close shot. Rear wheel. The tire slashed, the wheel rests

on the ground.

Full shot. Car. Shooting between group and BUZZ toward

backs of JIM and PLATO, who are looking down at car which

rests on its rims. JIM turns and moves toward group. He

stops, looks from one to the other and smiles nervously.

Then he looks straight at BUZZ.

JIM:

(wearily)

You know something?

BUZZ:

What?

JIM:

(reproachfully)

You watch too much television.

Med. shot. The group and JIM. JUDY has come to BUZZ,

stands on the wall above him.

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