Rumble Fish

Synopsis: Rusty James is the leader of a small, dying gang in an industrial town. He lives in the shadow of the memory of his absent, older brother -- The Motorcycle Boy. His mother has left, his father drinks, school has no meaning for him and his relationships are shallow. He is drawn into one more gang fight and the events that follow begin to change his life.
Genre: Drama
Production: Universal Pictures
  Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
7.2
Metacritic:
63
Rotten Tomatoes:
71%
R
Year:
1983
94 min
1,532 Views


1

Hey, Rusty James.

Biff Wilcox is looking for you,

Rusty James.

I'm not hiding.

He says he's gonna kill you,

Rusty James.

Sayin' ain't doin'.

Sh*t!

Sh*t, that's tough.

These things happen, Rusty James.

Maybe we should go

double or nothing sometime.

Sit down!

You cats are constantly fighting

and arguing amongst yourselves

like typical f***ing Yahoos.

Watch the language. Come on.

Hey, Benny, get me a chocolate milk.

So what's he doing about this, this Biff?

What's he doing about killing me?

The deal is, man, you're supposed

to meet him tonight

under the arches behind

the pet store at about 10 o'clock.

- Put a little hair on your chest.

- He's coming alone then, huh?

I wouldn't count on it, man.

Well, if he's bringing friends,

then I'm bringing friends.

Yeah, but you know how

that's gonna turn out, Rusty James.

Everybody will end up getting into it.

You bring people, he brings people.

You're gonna have to...

If you think I'm going by myself,

you're f***ing crazy.

Watch your language over there.

Watch it! Bring it down. Cool it off.

Butt out! What the hell

do you think you're doing?

F*** you, Smokey.

Steve goes wherever I go.

Steve, come here, sit down.

Sit down and be quiet.

Damn it, Rusty James, it's been a long time

since we've had that kind of trouble.

Chicken, Smoke?

Oh, Smoke's a chicken.

Bawk, bawk, bawk!

- Smoke doesn't want to come.

- Smokey, we understand chickens.

- Hey, Rusty James.

- BJ!

Smoke's a chicken!

What? You don't wanna come? Fine.

Hey, Rusty James,

you know I'm gonna be there, man.

But you know what the Motorcycle Boy

said about gang fights...

The Motorcycle Boy hasn't been around

for two months.

So don't go telling me about that.

What if the Motorcycle Boy

came back and found out?

What?

What if your brother came back

and found out?

My brother ain't back, man!

I'm sick of hearing this sh*t!

I don't know when he's coming back,

if he's coming back!

So if you a**holes want to wait around for

the rest of your life to see what he says,

fine, fine, man.

Get down off there!

I'm gonna stomp that shitass tonight.

And I should have a few f***ing friends.

Are you listening to me?

We're gonna be there, man. All right?

We are going to be there.

- But let's keep it between you two.

- BJ!

- I'm right behind you.

- Get down off there!

I'm sorry, Benny. Sorry, man.

Man, I love fights!

This reminds me of the old days

when we used to have rumbles.

Heroin ruined the gangs, man.

Junk, you know?

I wouldn't know.

Ask my brother, he'll tell you.

A gang really meant something then.

That gang sh*t was out of style

when you was 10 years old.

Bullshit, man, I was f***ing 11.

I can remember.

I was in the Swamp Babies. That was

the pee-wee branch of the Packers.

A gang really meant something back then.

Yeah, like getting sent to the hospital

once a week.

You have no loyalty, man!

No organisation!

Well, look it, I'm going, ain't I?

If you think it'll be a rumble,

you're crazy.

Cos you and Biff are gonna go at it,

and the rest of us is gonna watch and...

I doubt too many people are gonna

show up for that much anyway.

Yeah, listen.

You guys, I'll be right with you.

I gotta go talk to someone. Right?

Patty! Patty, hey.

Who are you, stranger?

- Rusty James, the man of your dreams!

- You mean my nightmares?

What are you doin'?

- Rusty James!

- Listen, babe, I'm coming over tonight.

Rusty James...

- I'm not allowed to have boyfriends over.

- Since when?

- Since I started having boyfriends.

- When was this?

- When I was 9.

- Get back in there, Donna!

- First time I ever heard about it.

- I haven't seen you in a long time.

- I've been busy, man.

- So I've heard.

Hey, listen, I'm coming over tonight.

So, you'd better roll out the red carpet!

Yeah, well, we'll see.

Hey, you're crazy about me,

you know that?

I am?

You know, you set up a fight,

and you recruit half the neighbourhood.

And now I guess you've got

plans of your own, huh?

Yup, take a walk, Smoke.

If Biff's there and you don't show up,

you know what happens to the rest of us?

You think he's gonna believe

we went there to watch?

Hey, listen, man...

Split up, meet there at 9:30.

I won't let you down, all right?

Let's go, Steve.

What's the matter with you?

You got a cigarette?

You know I don't have any cigarettes.

That's right. I forgot.

What's wrong?

Nothing. I'm just a little tired.

That's all.

Is it because

the Motorcycle Boy's been gone?

Steve, I don't want to talk about him,

right?

Don't start up on me, OK?

What's with this?

- Huh?

- It's a habit I got into it.

Yeah, well, break it.

- Hey, Rusty James.

- Hey, Donna, your sister home?

Yeah, but I thought

you were coming to see me.

Is your mother home?

No, my sister's home.

How about seeing me after?

Patty! Rusty James is here.

Hi, sweetheart.

I thought I told you I wasn't

supposed to have company tonight.

What? What? What?

What have you been so busy with?

- What have I been so busy with?

- Yes.

Nothing. I just been... hanging around

basically. Just messing around.

- Yeah, with girls?

- Girls? What are you talking about?

Girls? You know I'd never do that.

You're always with girls.

- Get back inside, squirt.

- I wanna listen to your conversation.

- OK.

- Wise guy.

- Traitor!

- I'm not a traitor.

So, how've you been?

Donna!

I get the picture.

All right, get outta here, Donna.

- Yuck!

- Ha, ha!

You guys aren't supposed

to do that in front of me.

- Donna, go to your room now!

- Bedtime.

I should do my 10-page report on you,

including illustrations!

- You're gonna get it.

- Have fun!

You know, I really missed you,

you know that.

Babe...

Rusty James.

Rusty James, wake up!

What the f*** are you doing?

Jesus, what time is it?

- Is it morning or night?

- Night. You're great company.

A quarter to 10.

I gotta... Oh, sh*t,

I gotta fight Biff Wilcox at 10:00.

Thanks.

Now mum will think I drank it.

Oh!

Finish it.

What's the matter, babe?

Come on, cheer up.

You told me you wouldn't

be fighting all the time.

Well, this isn't all the time.

This is just this once, all right?

You always say that.

You always try so hard to be

like your brother, Rusty James.

Hey, my brother's the coolest.

Well, you're better than cool.

You're warm.

Yeah, but...

He's smart.

You're smart!

Just not word smart.

Yeah?

Listen.

I love you.

But I gotta run, OK?

- All right. See you later.

- Yeah.

Be careful!

I love you.

Hey, Rusty James!

We just about gave up on you!

Watch out.

I'll take you on for warm-up.

Hey, man. You ready? Let's go.

Who's here, man? Huh?

I gotta have as many guys as Biff.

This is bullshit!

I thought we were supposed to watch,

Rusty James.

What's up, fellas?

Rusty James, where you been?

Where were you?

I was at Patty's.

What's it to you, huh?

Nothing, Rusty James. Nothing.

You're not expecting to find

Steve here, are you?

- Why do you put up with that wimp?

Rate this script:3.3 / 3 votes

S.E. Hinton

All S.E. Hinton scripts | S.E. Hinton Scripts

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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