Smokey and the Bandit Page #18

Cledus finishes the tires, but Fred isn't moving.

CLEDUS:

C'mon, Fred.

Nothing. The dog stares at him. Cledus takes a step forward.

Fred takes a step backward. Cledus takes two steps forward.

And Fred takes off. Running through the woods.

CLEDUS:

(running after him)

Fred!!!!!!

CUT TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I:

rolling. They're silent for a long time. Then:

KATE:

You plan on driving trucks all your

life?

BANDIT:

No, actually I was thinking of

becoming a brain surgeon.

She laughs, as we:

CUT BACK TO:

CLEDUS CHASING FRED

through the woods. As he's about to nab him, the Dog cuts

right and Cledus sprawls left.

CUT BACK TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I:

Kate and Bandit. Talking. More relaxed.

BANDIT:

-- Trucking ain't the easiest life

in the world. I mean, you can't make

it much past fifty and you sure as

sh*t don't get a gold watch when you

hang it all up. But I like keeping

on the move. You know?

KATE:

Do I know? I'm an authority on it.

BANDIT:

I guess if there's one lesson I've

learned, it's that even misery has a

tough time hitting a moving target.

(then, realizing)

I forgot your question?

KATE:

You plan on driving trucks all your

life?

BANDIT:

(shrugs)

I... uh... I don't know. I guess

don't like to think about it.

KATE:

Then let's change the subject.

(a beat)

What do you think about forced school

busing?

And:

CUT BACK TO:

CLEDUS RACING AFTER FRED

gaining ground. A flying tackle. And he snares him. Cledus

is out of breath and pissed. Fred licks his face.

CUT BACK TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I:

Bandit spots a green sedan with a radio-mike antenna coming

in the other direction. He backs off the accelerator.

KATE:

Your foot fall asleep?

Bandit shakes his head, reaching for the CB.

BANDIT:

(into mike)

Bandit two, Smokey in a plain brown

wrapper coming your way. Over.

No answer from Cledus. Kate has no idea what Bandit's just

said.

BANDIT:

(explaining to Kate)

An unmarked police car.

KATE:

How do you know?

BANDIT:

I know.

(into mike)

Bandit two, bring yourself on in.

Still no answer.

BANDIT:

(into mike)

What's the matter, Cledus? You got

mike fright?

(a beat, then)

Bandit two, do you copy?

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Cledus, exhausted and sweaty, tosses Fred into the eighteen-

wheeler and lunges for the CB mike.

CLEDUS:

(into mike)

Yeah, yeah, yeah? What's up?

Bandit glances up in the rear view mirror, sees the Smokey

in a plain wrapper take an off ramp. Harmless.

BANDIT:

(into mike)

Never mind. It's nothing.

CLEDUS:

(into mike)

Anything else you don't want me to

know?

BANDIT:

(into mike)

Nope. Just keep those wheels churning.

Cledus hangs up the mike, starts his rig, checks for oncoming

and pulls onto the highway. Fred's head sticks out the window,

his ears flapping in the wind.

DISSOLVE TO:

THE HIGHWAY - DAY - AERIAL SHOT

Bandit I and Bandit II whizzing down the highway. Picking up

time. OVER this, Kate sings "Jolene" along with Dolly Parton

on the radio.

DISSOLVE TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I - LATER

Bandit notices a broken-down FORD with its hood up, parked

off the highway. He veers the Cobra off the road, quickly

opens the glove compartment, takes out two screwdrivers and

hands one to Kate. She stops singing.

BANDIT:

(explaining)

I'm sure the Arkansas Bears put out

an all-points.

KATE:

(opening door)

You take the front, I'll take the

back.

QUICK CUT TO:

A MISSISSIPPI LICENSE PLATE

fills the screen. Then the screeching of burning rubber and

Bandit I pulls away from camera -- now wearing the Mississippi

plates. And we:

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