Heart Beat (1980) - full transcript

* doo doo doo doo doo

* love

* is a many

* splendored thing

* it's the April Rose

* that only grows

* in the early spring

* love is nature's way

* of giving

* a reason

* to be living



* the golden crown

* that makes a man

* a king

* lost

* on a high

* and windy hill

* in the morning mist

* two lovers kissed... *

after world war ii,

we all thought we knew
who we were

and where we were going.

According to the experts,

what each of wanted most

was a house
in the suburbs,



two cars,

our own barbecue pit,
and exactly 3.2 children.

Looking back,

I wasn't much different
than anyone else.

I took it for granted

that Mr. Right
would show up some day

and sweep me
off my feet.

That was before
I met Jack and Neal.

Boy, did I
have it wrong.

Jack kerouac
was a struggling novelist.

He wrote stories
in his mother's kitchen

about the jazzed-up lives
of the artists and musicians

he knew in New York.

Neal cassady was the son
of a Denver wino.

He'd grown up
on skid row,

but had spent
most of his youth
in reform school

for stealing cars.

The day he got out
of jail,

the first thing he did

was steal another car
and head straight for
New York.

Hello, Jack!

Jack and Neal were friends
with a wild young poet

named ira steiker.

It was ira
that introduced them
in greenwich village.

Ira, would you get
out of there?

Come on.

Neal thought Jack
was kind of square

until he began
to read his work.

Jack wrote out words

like they were notes
to a saxophone solo.

It was the same
kind of music

that went through
Neal's mind.

In no time,
the two were friends.

When Neal decided
to drive to San Francisco,

he asked Jack
to go with him.

Come on, let's go!

Jack didn't even
know how to drive,

but he figured
it would be a good
chance to learn.

I don't understand
why you're
doing this.

I don't either,
but I want to do it.

You wanted to be
a writer.

That's why
I want to do it.

I want to get him
on paper.

Can't he get himself
down on paper?

Mother,
it'll be all right.

I get on the bus
in Omaha, right?

They traveled with
Neal's girlfriend,
Stevie,

a runaway teenager
he picked up in Iowa.

Dubuque.
You know what I mean?

Dubuque, Iowa.

A lot of
good-looking girls
come from Iowa.

They're all
corn-fed little girls.

Beautiful little things.

So anyway,
I'm sitting there
on the bus,

and this little thing
is such a beauty, Jack...

My ma would be there

with some little
ritz crackers
waiting on the table.

I go over there,
read the paper,

and look at her eyes.

She had beautiful eyes,
these perfect eyes, man.

[Engine starts]

Whoo!

Beat, beat, beat.

Hey, Jack,
this little chick
back here

just wants to
settle down and
make me miserable.

Think she'll
get away with it?

Well, I kinda
doubt it.

When you really
fell in love,

what kind of woman
would you fall
in love with?

Love?

Yeah, love. Yeah.

Ha ha ha. Love.

Well, you know,
maybe one you did.

Well, if that's
the case,

maybe I oughta...

What?

Try and fall in love
with ol' Stevie-weevie.

How do you
like that, big buddy?

O.k., big buddy.

Let's try it.

Are you kidding?

All right. 7:05.

Provided
this is Wednesday,
we're right on time.

Gee, everybody
looks so accustomed
to everything.

Are you meeting
him here?

Yeah. Hey, looks
like old dick's
moved uptown, huh?

All right, Jack.
You've got
the tuxedo.

Stevie, you're
wearing underwear,

and I'm taking
the zoot suit.

Gimme that.
Let's go! Come on.

For me, it began
on a date with
another man.

I was studying
to be a painter

at the art institute
in San Francisco.

Dick was a friend
of Neal's from the old days.

We were very much
in love

and used to talk
about marriage endlessly.

I say used to,

because that night
turned out to be

one of the last times
I ever saw him.

Short?

Oh!

I think I can help you.

Just tell me
when to stop.

10, 20, 30...

Whoa.

40...50...

60.

Hey.

It's o.K.

Thanks, two-brew.
I'll get it back to you.

Money's no problem.

Money is, uh...

Is the least
of my problems.

Yeah. It's a far cry
from larimer street,
huh?

Yeah.
It sure is.

This guy used to be

one of the best
one-handed bank shots
at skully's pool hall.

Used to be.

It's good to see you.

Good to see you.

Here's my date.

Carolyn,

this is Stevie.

Hi, Stevie.

Hello.

Jack.

Hello, Jack.

And...neal.

Neal.

Dick talks about you
all the time.

You know what he did
this time, Carolyn?

Drove here
straight from New York
in three days.

Why?

You don't know him.

He don't need
a reason.

He just needs gas.

Later, Neal and Jack
ran out of cigarettes.

They stared at
the butts in the ashtray,

but they didn't
smoke them.

I don't know if I was
flattered or insulted.

I only knew
that something had begun.

I was interested in
these two characters
from the start.

All the men
that I knew in those days

either talked about
business or themselves.

Jack and Neal didn't seem to
give a damn about either.

I'd love to
read your book, Jack.

Well...

There's still a, uh,
discernible trace
of wolfian influence

in the more picaresque
sections.

Freshen your cocktail?

Yes, please, Jack.

Is he really
as a good a writer

as he acts like he is?

That's not an act.
He's really
a good writer.

You guys are funny.

Oh, no, no.
He's serious.

I think you're
serious, too.

Well...

What it is, is, um...

See, we got a deal.

You're not
supposed to think.

Oh, is that right?

Well, if I did
what I was
supposed to do,

I wouldn't be
getting drunk

in the middle
of the afternoon,
would I?

So why are you
doing it?

So why'd you ask me?

We're just goofing
around.

Well, so am I.

O.k.

O.k.

O.k.

O.k.

O.k.

O.k.

During the day,

Neal sold blood
to pay the rent.

I studied at school.

Jack struggled
to finish his novel.

At night,

we met at bud's bop shop,

a jazz place
that Neal knew.

They knew him, too.

What a Romeo.

Yeah. Girls really
go for him.

Ira calls him
the Adonis of Denver.

Who's ira?

Ira steiker,
old powermouth, the poet.

Sounds like
a heavy crush.

It is.

Are you serious?

Love at first sight.

But--

but, Neal--

Neal doesn't--

Neal doesn't what?

Hmm?

Neal does whatever
he feels like,

but only in
the company of friends.

Does that include US?

Friends? Sure.
If you never take
his word for anything.

Promise me you'll never
take his word for anything.

[Whistles]

Hey, careful
with my book, huh?

Ahem.

It's 7:00
in the morning, boys.

Hello, sweetheart.

I'm sick of sitting here
alone while you two go out--

we're looking
for work.

Work, my sweet ass!
Who's Camille?

I don't
know Camille.

I've been reading
about her all night.

Jack,
who's Camille?

It's a nom de plume.
You're Dean moriarity.

He better not be,
brother.

Hey, it's fiction.

[Sighs]

You're running
with that debutante,
aren't you?

I'm not running
with any debutante.

You know, you're getting
real predictable, man.

I guess we have her
to thank for that.

I'm going to
tell you something.

No, I'm not
going to tell you.

But I'll tell you this.

Don't think about things
you're not supposed
to think about.

I've been working
my ass to the bone

to provide you
with the most wholesome
environment I could.

I'll do the first thing
that comes into my head

if you're not here
to stop me.

I know that.
Now, shh!

Now, shh!

Come here, now.
Come here.

Come here, now.

Come here.

O.k.

Ha ha ha ha.

We're going
to play now.

Oh, goody.

Ohh, goody!

Damn you!

Mmm!

Ha ha ha ha.

Hey, Jack, this
ain't no peep show.

Ha ha ha--aah!

You!

Listen! Listen!
See this?

You see that?

Don't talk about it.

Hey, old buddy,
what the hell's the idea

of leaving that
around for her to see?

It's my novel.

I know
it's your novel.

Find something else
to write about but me.

Haven't you got
one thought of your own?

What's eating you?

Nothing's
eating me, Jack.

She's right,
you know.

This place
is a dump.

A man's home, my friend,
is his castle.

You know
what I mean, Jack?

So, you
hit the sack
with him yet?

With whom?

Dicko. Whom
do you think?

Maybe.

What a thing
to ask.

That's a hell
of a thing to ask.

Sorry. I don't mean
to get personal.

I'd have thought
we were too intimate

to start
getting personal now.

I was only thinking
of you, sweetheart.

How often?

When I think of it.

I personally
think of you a lot.

But I'm not uncouth
enough to mention it.

[Whistles]

He asked me
to marry him.

What an asshole.

You going to do it?

I don't know.
What do you think?

I think
he's an asshole.

You going to?

I might go
to Los Angeles.

I got a job offer
down there.

You got a job offer
down there?

Yeah. Have to quit school.
I don't know if I'm ready.

School's full
of assholes.

Could you alternate
invectives occasionally?

Sorry. We don't all
have that Ivy league
vocabulary

at our fingertips.

That's not
what I mean.

Yeah, forget it.

Are you nervous
because she said
she might leave?

Me? I'm not nervous.

You know, travel
broadens the outlook.

You know that.

It's just that...

I've been meaning
to make tracks
myself lately.

The longest I
spent in one spot
since jail.

Oh, yeah?

Where you going?

Not L.A.

No?

No.

Too bad.

'Cause I just made
up my mind I am.

When did you
do that?

When I pictured
myself being married
to an asshole.

[Plays kazoo]

What are you going
to do with that,

t.p. The cow palace?

Nope. I'm going to
finish typing my book.

I'm through
fooling around.

I'm going to play this
thing like Charlie Parker.

Bennies.

Forget it.
I need them.

What's the big hurry
all of a sudden?

No hurry, same hurry.

You know, just fame,
overnight success,

house in the hills,

a little lady,
picket fence,

a couple of kids,
a station wagon.

Like something
a little better
than a flophouse?

Yeah, a little
bit better.

[Plays kazoo]

You sucker, Jack.

Sucker?

Sucker for what, Neal?

[Plays kazoo]

You know,
you're crazy.

Yeah, crazy.

And I'll bet ira steiker
has this sold

by the time I
get back to New York.

New York?

Yeah. I'm going
to ask Carolyn

if she wants to go
back east with me.

Besides, you two
probably want your
privacy back again.

Besides, uh, this is
no place to be a writer.

I'm going to
the post office,

then Carolyn's.

Yeah, it would
be nice having
some time alone,

wouldn't it,
hon?

Jack.

New York's no place
to be a writer, either.

There's too many people
trying to be famous.

So you skirt the
authorities, old boy.

You try to
remember that.

You didn't say
you'd think it'd be nice

if we spent some time
alone again, hon.

We've never been alone.

We were in the car

on the way
to New York.

So we were.

You know, you're
excellent company
when you're driving.

Well, it's nice to excel
at something, honey.

You know...

I'm no whiz kid
like Jack or ira,

but they're just
using you anyway.

I know.

What would
they write about
if it wasn't for you?

I'm going out, Stevie.

What are you doing
with two t-shirts?

All I own
are two t-shirts.

You're crazy.

I know I'm crazy.

Don't do anything
crazy, Stevie.

[Door closes]

[Thunder]

I broke my nail.

Jack waited
for Neal to appear.

Stevie knew him better

and vanished
into the streets
of the city.

Jack traveled east.

For the first time,
he was on his own.

He'd gained a book,

but the cost
had been high.

Neal and I
had each other.

I stayed in school

and he got a job.

We found a little
cold water flat
on haight street.

We wrote to Jack,
but he didn't answer.

After that
he was never mentioned,

but he was always
in our thoughts.

The war had been over
about five years.

A new decade had begun,

and we were just
three Americans.

On the road?
Do you mean that?

Look, if we could
just see Mr. Ogden--

he told me to tell you

we don't accept
unsolicited spare tires.

Shit.

If he'd only
fucking read it.

They all have.

Robots!

That's what they are,
a bunch of fucking robots!

Mr. Ogden? Excuse me.

Excuse me. Mr. Ogden.

I'm ira steiker.
This is Jack kerouac.

You remember, of course.

I submitted Mr. Kerouac's
book here to you.

That isn't a book.
It's a spare tire.

Never mind the paper, ogden.
Did you read the writing?

It isn't writing.
It's typing.

What the fuck
do you know about writing,

you ill-bred Android?

Perhaps not a lot,

but I do know
about you and
your friend here.

Everyone in
the industry does.

I'm as anxious
as the next man

to find
a point of view
to sell.

But yours isn't going
to make it, sweetheart.

You all lack
such charisma.

My name is Jack kerouac.

Maybe Neal's right,
you know?

Maybe we ought to
go to San Francisco.

I've been there.

Maybe we ought
to be anyplace
other than here.

Look, uh,

you know, I don't
think they're
all that happy.

I get letters
from Neal--

I don't want
to hear about it.

Well...

If I go--
if I go...

Who's gonna
take care of you?

I don't need anybody
to take care of me.

And I am getting
goddamn sick and tired

of everybody thinking
how fucking inept I am!

I didn't say
you were inept.

Only you and Neal
can burn up some highway?

I thought you needed
order to write.

All I need is a pencil.

O.k., calm down.

Why, huh?

Only you and Neal
can wallow in it?

So go with me!

Go with me!

No.

I am not going
to go with you.

I'm not going to
go with anybody,
but I'm going.

That's right, Jack.

Come on. Get angry.

Come on. Get angry
and stay angry

until you get
what you want.

Jack went one way,

and ira went another.

Jack's road led
to more books.

Ira's led straight
to Neal.

"Momus in whom I am
cognizant without matter.

"Light dripping
out of the sun!

"Momus, momus!
Son of night!

"Momus!
Invisible coalitions!

"Deranged industrialists!

"Ghostly nations!

"Insulin asylums!

"Momus! Momus!

"Cocksucker in momus!

"Malignant bombs!

"Malignant bombs!

Glass jism!"

Very good, ira.

Ha ha ha!

I'm not finished.

What do you think?

Well, I guess I'm kind
of old-fashioned,

but I sort of go
for the...

Love song of
j. Alfred prufrock.

Eliot.

Oh, you mean the bank clerk.

The world's big authority

on the end
of civilization.

Want to know
about civilization?

Ask any bum on the bowery

after he's had
12 shots of sterno.

The puke-encrusted scabs
on his face

are a more eloquent poem
than eliot ever wrote.

Eliot.

So, um...

How long are you
here for, ira?

I don't know.

I'm going down to Mexico.

Maybe even farther south.

Would you like to go
with me, Neal?

You got gas money?

Gas money?

They got free tea

growing in goddamn fields
down there.

Then we'll just get high

driving around
with the windows open, huh?

Something like that.

What do you say, honey?

I can't go to Mexico.

I have a whole semester
of school left.

Can't you put it off?

Put it off?

Until when?

Until we get strangled
by bullshit?

Neal, this entire society
is decadent, man.

It's diseased.

There's a definite
conspiracy, you know,

to choke every man, woman,
and child in america

on the feces of mediocrity,

like this won ton
for example.

Waiter! There's a turd
in my soup!

Hey, come on.

Must you be so loud?

I'm sorry
if I'm a threat to you.

You're not
a threat to me.

I'm a threat to everybody.

I know that.

Maybe I could learn
some table manners.

I don't know.

[Sighs]

Being polite,

seems like such
an arrogant gesture to me.

I see a lot of stupid pain
in this world,

and it makes me angry,

so I shout.

What else am I going
to do with my yap,

run for office?

Neal is the only
truly fearless person

I've ever met.

I hate to see him
get swallowed up

by the same shit

that's turned this
whole generation

into a constipated pack
of cowering illiterates,

that's all.

Is that what you
think I am?

I don't know what you are,

except in love
with the same person I am.

So, we have
too much in common

to be anything but friends.

What do you say?

I'm sorry.

I'm not accustomed
to hearing a man

saying anything
like that.

Who would you rather
hear say it--

Deborah kerr?

Am I supposed to feel
guilty about this, too?

Excuse me.

Wait, Carolyn. I'm sorry.

Carolyn, wait!

Carolyn!

Wait!

I'm sorry, Neal.

I understand.

Go home.
I'll call you later.

Right.

Listen, ira.

I'm in love
with that woman.

Everyone just
has to get hep
to that fact,

you understand?

[Coughing]

[Jazz music plays]

Ha!

[Television playing]

[Woman]
Aah!

[Man]
Who are you?

Please shut the door!

Ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Aah!

Aah!

[Sighs]

So what are you doing
down here?

Ah, you know...

I went nuts.

I'm like that
24 hours a day.

I know.

I'm totally insane.

'Cause of me?

Ha ha!

Yeah.

Yeah.

Can I do anything
for you?

Yeah.

God, you are the most
lascivious person

I ever met.

Yeah.

But I love you
from my heart.

I love her, Stevie.

I don't give a rusty fuck
for that or nothing.

[Tires screech]

"Momus who horrified me

"out of my natural
atmosphere.

"Momus whom I repudiate.

"Arise in momus.

"Dripping from the sun
in momus.

Cocksucker in momus."

Oh!

[Footsteps]

Honey, uh...

I'm home late.

Hey, but I'm not
that late, huh?

[Carolyn]
Does that include US?

[Jack]
What, friends? Sure.

If you never take his word
for anything.

Promise me you'll never
take his word for anything.

[Retching]

Hey.

They're smoking opium
up in your room, man.

I know. I'm working.

That's good stuff.

So is this.

[Retching]

So how come it's always
back in the mail, huh?

[Belches]

Oh, hey, man.
I forgot.

This came for you
Tuesday.

What's that?
From your publishings?

No, my mom.

It seems I'm 30.

Oh.

Well, happy birthday,
then.

Thanks.

[Flushes]

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

Uh, honey.

Hey, I know what's going
through your mind right now,

and it hardly warrants
your attention.

These are my friends.
That's all they are.

It has nothing
to do with US.

I'm pregnant.

Huh?

I'm pregnant.

You're pregnant?

Oh, boy, did you hear that?

I'm going to have a kid.

If it's a boy,
we'll call it Jack.

Neal, Neal, put me down.

What do you say?

Honey.

Put me down.

Now, come on, honey,
please.

No.

I was going
to be a painter.

Well...

I was going
to be free.

You are.

Oh, is that right?

Is that right?

Then why do I feel
like an asshole?

Because you got caught.

Carolyn,
you expect too much.

Not from you, I don't.

You're too scared
not to expect something.

Is scared what you call

committing yourself
to somebody?

I commit myself
to many people.

That's your excuse
for what I saw?

I don't make excuses.

You don't make commitments.

I love you.
Understand that?

But there are other
people in the world.

And they're about
to have company.

O.k.

O.k.

[Sighs]

All right, honey,
what are we going to do?

We?

Hey, let's get married.

Oh, Neal.

You can't take care
of yourself,

let alone a kid.

I'm an adult.

I know you're an adult,
Carolyn.

But I love you.

Don't make me laugh.

What do I have to do?

Want me to make a list?

Yeah. Make a list.

For one thing,
we have to move.

Move?

Move.

Come on, honey.

Gee whiz.

[Mumbles]

The rent's
all right here.

Of course it is, Neal.

It's a slum.

Sure, it's a slum,

but you always
liked it before.

Things were different before,

you know what I mean?

Yeah.

If we're going to do this,

let's do it right.

O.k., how are we going
to get the money?

I'd quit school,

work for as long as I can.

You can sell the car.

Sell the car?

Sell the car.

Sell the car?

Aw, come on, honey.

Sell the car?

* dear one

* the world

* is waiting
for the sunrise *

* every Rose

* is covered with dew

* and while

* the world

* is waiting
for the sunrise *

* and

* my heart

* is following you

hi, honey.

Hi, honey.

Let me take that plant.

Here's Oscar.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

How you feeling?

Great.

Did you have
any trouble finding
the place?

No.

Neal was determined
to accept responsibility.

[Bawling]

* the world

* is waiting...

He pursued it the way
he once pursued freedom.

* and my heart is calling
for you *

but, like freedom,

the road was fraught
with peril.

* his sleepy mate
is calling *

* and

* my heart

* is calling you *

you better hurry up
and get dressed, honey.

They're going to be here
any minute.

This guy's a what?

I think he's
a chemical something.

They just moved in.

What are we supposed
to talk about?

Well, I don't know,
honey.

I just want to know
one neighbor,

just one.

You weren't so anxious
to know our neighbors

back in haight street.

Most of them went
to jail before you
could say hello.

That's something
I could talk about.

That's not funny, Neal.

Well, I'll be sure
not to mention it

to your friends.

We don't have
any friends.

[Doorbell rings]

Right. Right.

O.k.

All right, what are
the names again, honey?

Bob and Betty bendix.

O.k.

All right,
I'll be right there.

Thanks.

Bob and Betty bendix.

This korean thing's
got to be

the kookiest darn scrape
we've ever gotten into.

Betty's cousin skip
was over there.

To hear him tell it,

today's army's a pretty
hang-loose type operation.

Did you serve?

One to five.

Pardon me?

What?

Dinner's ready.

Oh.

I'll get your drink, dear.

Oh, thank you, darling.

I don't know if Carolyn
said anything to you,

but Saturday morning
the kiwanis club's having
a pancake breakfast.

Maybe we could get you
to come down

and man a spatula.

I have to go
to the bathroom.

O.k.

Come on, Ricky,
finish your breakfast.

O.k.

You haven't even
touched those eggs.

David's practically
finished.

David's just
a big showoff.

How do you expect to grow
if you don't eat?

I sure would like
something different
for breakfast.

What do you think
this is, a hotel?

Nobody's talking
to you, David.

What would you like?

Probably hot dogs
and ice cream.

That's exactly
what I had in mind

and maybe a chocolate bar
for dessert.

More coffee, Betty?

Bob, more tapioca?

Oh, no.

We really have to go.

Have you seen this?

Ha ha ha!

That's good.

Well, that was
darn good feed.

Darn good what?

Darn good feed.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Well, we really
have to go.

A wonderful dinner.

It was nice to meet you,
ned--Neal.

If you can make
that Saturday thing,

we'd like
to have you come.

Bye-bye.

Thanks again.

* oh, la la la la

* la la la la

* la la la la

* la la la la la

* la la *

Neal!

[Baby crying]

Kerouac!

Hey, Shakespeare.

Kerouac!

You got a ship.

Sign here.

You got anything else?

You've been hanging
around here all week

waiting for a ship.

Not to there.

Pal...

There ain't no other
place to go.

Take it or leave it.

* I'd give
my whole life for *

* aah-aah-aah

* if I only
had this dance *

* and when
the song is over *

* ooooh

* she'll be goin' home
with you *

* what can I do?

* what can I do?

* my love for you *

[Doorbell chimes]

Jack?

Yeah, Jack.

By god, this is great.

I can't bear to drink alone
in my condition.

What condition?

I'm broke!

Come on!

Ha ha ha ha.
Let's go, huh?

God knows I love her.

I love her a lot.

I can't even look her
in the eye no more.

So, you've got
a damn tragedy.

I have.

How does she look?

Like a married woman.

Hey, tell me about
those Mexican babes.

I'll bet they're hot
little mamas, huh?

Yeah, sure.

Does she ever, uh...

Does she ever talk
about, um...

Me?

Only when I fuck up,

which is 14
or 15 times a day.

The railroad's
sending me on
a hold-down tomorrow.

Two weeks living
in a goddamn caboose.

Know what that's
like for me, Jack?

It's a goddamn vacation.
It's time off.

Hey, why don't you
stay at the house?

Keep her company
while I'm gone.

Got a room
in the attic.

No, Jack. She's not
going to nag you.

No. I promise that.

Come on.

We'll hit bud's,
then we'll go home.

Let's go.

Isn't it kind of late?
Shouldn't you call first?

Bud's doesn't close
till sunup.

No, but I meant...

Come on.
It's like old times.

Tonight we wail...

Tomorrow...

I hit the road.

I, uh,
sorry about that.

Ha ha. Come on.
Forget that.

Come on!

Mommy, Jamie
wet the bed again.

O.k., honey,
I'll be in there
in a minute.

[Sighs]

[Tires screech]

Damn! What a car!

Oh, what a driver!

Hey, what a night
for romance.

You son-of-a-bitch.

God, hey,
don't you pout now.

Come here.

Hey, hey! Somebody better
get down to business.

I'm going to jump on
that gear shift.

Well, he's got a wife
and children in that house.

Oh, do you?

Uh-uh.

Well, then,
you're elected.

[Giggling]

Shh! Shh! Shh!

Shh!

Shh! Quiet!

[Coughing]

Shh! Shh!

Hello, Jack.

You're in over your head,
ain't you, girl?

Mommy, could I watch TV
after lunch?

Yes, honey, if you
keep the sound down.

The others are napping.

Where's Neal?

Psst.

Where's your father?

Where's daddy?

He's at work.

There's coffee
on the stove.

I'm sorry
about last night.

I was, uh...

I was drunk.

Actually, uh,

I was afraid to come here
and see you.

[Cathy]
Will he come back today?

No, honey.

I still am afraid
to see you.

Don't use
all the milk.

I need it for
Cathy's lunch.

Will you stop talking
bullshit?

I don't have...

Anything else
to talk about.

Cathy, honey, will
you go in your room?

[Jack]
Carolyn...

Carolyn...

I'm just tired of
being treated like
a piece of garbage.

You're not a piece
of garbage.

Well, he makes me
feel like one.

He makes me look
like one.

He makes me
act like one.

You're not one.
You're not a piece...

Betty,
there's a cezanne
exhibit next week.

Would you
like to go?

Who?

Betty.

Oh, thank you,
sir.

Jack, it
was a pleasure.

The pleasure
was all mine, Bob.

What was the name of
that weed killer again?

Sluggo. You
can't beat it.

We'll do that tennis
thing real soon.

Betty...the earth
moved tonight.

Why, you little
charmer, you.

I guess we better
get out of here
while we can.

I guess we better.

Good night, now.

Good night.

Don't trip over
the sprinkler.
Good night.

It was just
the guy next door.

Will you stop it?

This is
the toughest thing

I ever had
to do in my life.

Are you kidding?

He'll probably be so excited,
he won't stay for dinner.

How can you say that?
He loves you.

He's the father
of your children.

He loves you, too,

but did that stop him from
dumping you in that hotel?

[Car approaches]

Thanks a lot.
Catch you later.

It's him.

This is
the toughest thing

I ever had to
do in my life.
Just stand there.

I got an idea.

My best pal...

And my best gal.

Oh, god, honey!

Listen, I've been
such a fool, honey,
just such a fool.

Neal,
put me down.

I was a pig, honey.

It'll be different
for the rest of our lives.

Excuse me, Jack.

[Door closes]

Ha ha.

You told him?

Somebody had to.

Did you mean what
you said out there,

about the rest of your
lives being different?

He always says that.

Well, I always
mean that, Carolyn.

Well, I mean,
I've tried my best,
honey.

God, do you think
this would have
ever happened

if I didn't know that?

My best pal...

And my best gal.

Choooo.

If I thought you
could make her happy,

even for a minute...
Right?

Right.

Oh, no, no, no, Jack.

I'm, uh, I'm too selfish
to make anybody happy.

That's the way
I saw it.

You looked so miserable.

I wouldn't say i'm
exactly miserable, Jack.

Come on, Neal.

Jack said you
couldn't look me
in the eye anymore.

Did you tell her that?

Do you want to go
to Mexico or don't you?

Yeah. Do you?

No. That's what
I'm trying to tell you.

Everything I want,
I've got right here...
What you've got.

Oh.

What about your
writing, Jack?

I can give that up.

Just because it didn't
work out for you,

doesn't mean
it won't for me.

You'll punch into
a job 9:00 to 5:00,

come home,
rake leaves, write?

Yeah.

Bullshit!
She doesn't believe
that for a minute.

Yes, she does.

No, I don't.

I'm doing it anyway.

I don't want you
to do it.

Well, Neal does.

Is that who
you're doing it for?

I'm doing it for you both,
for all three of US.

Well, what
do you want?

I don't know.

I just wish people

would stop being
pissed off at me
all the time.

Oh, honey,

we're not pissed
off at you.

God, I guess I just
expected too much.

No, we both
expected too much.

Do you think you
can make her happy,
Jack?

I don't know.

Why not? He doesn't
expect a thing anymore.

Shit.

[Sighs]

I'm keeping my
favorite chair.

All right.

And I get to
use the bathroom
whenever I want to.

You have to knock.

Give me back
my razor.

No, you're not.
I'm keeping
the razor.

We'll share it.
You had the razor--

life for most
is a lonely highway.

Expectations
are like billboards,

a diversion but
not an improvement.

Neal, Jack, and I decided
to throw away the map.

Ha ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha.

Would you guys
like a beer?

Oh, my god!

Is that marijuana?

Ugh!

Ha ha ha ha.

Good night,
Neal.

Good night,
Jack.

Good night, honey.

Good night,
greasy.

You got that?

You got to kick the thing
to move the train.

O.k., then twice--1, 2.

Then you drop that,
shut the door.

You got it, Jack?

Boy, that meat loaf
sure was good.

Well, thank you, Bob.

More wine,
anyone?

Uh, no.

More wine,
darling?

No, dear. I have
to get the coffee.

No, honey,
I'll get it.

No, thank you,
sweetheart.

I have to
get the dessert.
Excuse me.

Ha ha
ha ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha ha.

[Radio sportscaster]
There's sort of a hush
over the crowd

here in Milwaukee,

a feeling which
pervades everybody here,

knowing that any one
of these hitters

can change the entire
complexion of the entire
world series.

Here's the pitch.

There goes a fly ball
to deep left center field.

It's going, going...
It's a home run!

Gone!
That's gone, man!

That was a home run.
That's a great game.

They win this one,
they'll be crazy
in New York.

I'll tell you something.

We're going to be
crazy in California
in about...

60 seconds here.

We're
already crazy.

Mm-hmm.

[Coughs]

The beer gave me
a stomach ache.

Mmm.

Ahh!

It's god's country,
though, ain't it, son?

Mm-hmm.

Ahh.

Yoo-hoo!

Guess who's
in the paper today?

Your friend steiker.

Young lady, march
into your room and
take that dress off.

Yeah, he was arrested
for that poem.

You know, the one
about the--ahem--
glass jism.

It was seized
by the police.

What do you
mean seized?

You know, seized.

There's going to be
a trial and everything.

According to that,
the only place he's
going is to jail.

He's not
going to jail.

They ain't going
to make that stick.

The only thing
it's going to do,

it's going to
make him famous,

the poor bastard.

What's wrong
with being famous?

Oh, come on, Jack.

Listen, here,
you know, we all
got to serve.

But the famous,

they have to serve
as an example.

Gee.

That's really
clever, Neal.

You got a real way
with words, you know.

...top out
the eight inning,

New York 6,
Milwaukee 2.

Got a cigarette?

Yeah, honey,
right here.

That typing's not
bothering you, is it?

In the old days,

he'd do it
in the same bed
as me and Stevie.

You're getting a running
jump on things,
aren't you, sport?

Well, champ,
three days, Jack's
got seniority.

And when he's
making that kind
of bread, well...

Well, you know.

Mexico--
the land of romance.

I just got to see it
once, Carolyn.

I know.

Are you sure?

I mean, are you
all right with
Jack and all?

I'm o.K.
With me and all.

Ever since
Jack's been here,

it's been great
to be around you.

You've been nice
to be around, too.

Oh, is that right?

Well...

* peg of my heart

* my little
oopie doopie *

you sure do look cute
when you're happy.

Ha ha.
Ha ha.

You can charm
the pants off me
when you are.

Ohh!

[Typing stops]

[Typing resumes]

Oh, god.

You know,
he's the only thing

that stands between
US and divorce.
Ha ha ha.

Are you o.K.?

Are you?

Is she?

I think so.

Well, then,
what the hell?

What the hell?

I'll miss you, Jack.

I'll miss you, too.

I love you, man.

I love you, too.

Yeah, well...

Hey, listen, if we
made a run for it,

I don't think
she could catch US.

Ha ha ha ha.
Ha ha ha ha.

Now, get out of here.

Come on,
let's go.

Hey!

Line up!

Line up!

Hup! Hup!
Let's go! Hup!

All right,
you ready?

All ready?
Whoo!

Ha ha ha ha.

[Telephone rings]

Ha ha ha ha.

Hello?

Just a minute.

Jack, it's for you.

Hello?

Hi, there.
Remember me?

I remember you.

It's pretty hard
not to

with all
the press your pal
keeps getting.

Know what I mean?

What?

Nah, yeah,
I can, yeah.

Yeah, bye.

What's
the matter, Jack?

I just sold
on the road.

All eastbound passengers...

Final call.

Final call.

Be back in a month...
Maybe two.

Just going to take
the money and run.

Why not?

I might have to do
some publicity.

You have to play ball
with these guys

to a certain extent.

I put some toothpaste
in your bag.

I'll take care
of your books.

Then they said something
about Hollywood.

Jack,
get on the bus.

So, uh...

Who would have guessed?

You go for a ride
with a guy, and...

10 years later, they
publish a novel about it.

It's amazing.

I'll be back.

When, Jack?

Why when?
I didn't ask you

when are you coming back
when you dumped me
at the hotel.

I knew you were
gonna bring up
that goddamn hotel.

It's not the hotel.
I just got my book
published.

You want me
to ignore it
after 10 years?

I've been
holding down the fort
for 10 years.

And I'll hold it down
when I get back.

You don't believe
I'm coming back.

Do you believe
I'm coming back?

Jack, it's all right if
you're not coming back.

Oh, great.

I just mean...

Look, I don't know
what I'm doing.

I mean, when
did I ever know
what I was doing?

[Bus motor starts]

Bye.

Yeah.

He didn't hear
a word I said,
did he?

Neal?

Huh?

No, I didn't hear
what you said.

Well...gee, I guess
if you didn't
bring your bongos,

we'll just
have to talk.

[Audience laughs]

For any of you folks
who've been out

testing your
bomb shelters
the last few months

and missed the news,

Jack's book--
on the road--
is a smash hit

that's turning
the literary world
upside down.

It's spawned
a whole new bohemian
lifestyle overnight.

Hope you didn't
change your t-shirt
just for US, Jack.

Seriously, if
you haven't read it,

Jack's book's
a pretty shocking
yarn

about a bunch
of kooky characters

running around
looking for--

in the argot
of negro jazz
musicians--

kicks.

It's kind
of a free love
sort of thing

where everybody
seems to spend
most of their time

taking drugs
and avoiding work,
razors, and bath tubs.

Jack calls these frantic
characters "beatniks,"
don't you, Jack?

No, actually.
That is some term

that some columnist
made up.

Columnists. They
don't seem to like you
very much, do they?

Don't they? They sure
seem to be writing

a lot of articles.

Well, I think
that anything

that threatens
the basic decency

and moral fiber
of American life

deserves to be
written about...
Don't you, Jack?

Yes, I do.

Hmm. And what is it,
exactly,

that you write
about, Jack?

Well, uh...

I don't know. Uh...

Friendship, uh...

Uh...

Hmm. Friendship.
Now, can we take it

that your hero
of your story--
moriarity--

is that
a fictionalized
character,

or is that
indeed a friend
that you know?

He's a frie--uh...

He's a fictionalized
friend of mine.

I see. And you identify
with his lifestyle.

[Television]
That's the way you think
people should be living--

dropping out of society,
taking drugs...

Neal?

Hmm?

It's worse than
the last time.

Well, do what I do--
don't watch it.

Responsibility
isn't necessarily
curtailed...

[Telephone rings]

[Audience laughs]

Hello?

...taking
responsibility

for the sort
of thing...

Of course we are!
We're watching it
right now!

Well, you look great!

Neal, it's Jack.
Hang on a second.

[Audience laughs]

Hey, Jack!

Hey, where are you,
man?

I don't know.
I'm in some dump
hotel somewhere.

It's a zoo, man.

Hey, hey...
Hey, Neal,
listen to this.

Don't tell
Carolyn, o.K.?

But these guys--
these guys
fixed me up

with some tomato

from vogue
magazine.

What page
are you on?

39.

She's on page 39.
Look her up.
No offense.

Hey, when you
comin' back, man?

I don't know.
Come on, don't spoil it.

Spoil what, having
some dork-wipe

trash you on TV
like that?

What, Larry?
He's a good guy.

Larry's a good man.
It's all show
business.

The guy's, uh,
picking up the tab,
you know?

[Chuckles]

Aw, god, Jack, you out
with that dork-wipe?

Yeah. But...
He's a good guy.

Wait a second, o.K.?

I'll, uh...
Basically,
hold on a minute.

Hey, larr...

You want to talk
to, uh...

Dean moriarity?

The fellow in your book.

Yeah.

Sure.

Hello.

[Chuckles]

Hey, you must be
one kooky character,
mister.

Listen, I really loved
the scene in the book
when you--

good god.

What'd he say?

What do you think...
He said?

Beats me.

[Laughing]

[Carolyn]
Jack wrote to Neal

that he should be proud
instead of worried.

Like boswell and Johnson,

their friendship
had created art.

Neal replied that he didn't
know much about what he liked,

but he didn't like art
at all.

[Music]

And your neighborhood
Plymouth dealer...

[Music]

Invites you
to see and drive

the 1960 Plymouth,
still the new
solid way

to give you
solid satisfaction...

And to enjoy...

The Steve Allen
Plymouth show,

presenting...

William bendix!

Beat generation
novelist Jack kerouac.

[Carolyn]
Jack wrote back
that Neal misunderstood.

What was good for him
was good for US all.

Neal said that that letter

was the first good fiction
Jack had written in months.

All right, folks,
get it right here!

Beatnik kit, only $3.00.

[Continues indistinct]

After that, they stopped
writing altogether.

They didn't really
need to anymore.

On the road had turned
their lives into an open book.

Smile, Jimmy.

If you really
enjoy this,

I can give you
an extra prize--

a poem for
only 50 cents more,

a great gift
for grad or dad.

You, mister?

You're a long way
from San Francisco.

I'm on my way home.

[Carolyn]
Finally Neal decided that
it was time to move on.

But little did we know

that he'd already
stayed too long.

[Flute and bongo play]

"Index your pablum.

"Atomic mists.

"Born in broken
sheets of time,

"open the stainless
steel morning

"drunken
with isotopes.

"Open wall-less
windows

"with broken sheets
of time.

"Born

"with silent words.

Your rusty eggs..."

Give me a shot
of Tequila.

"...of robot eyes..."

Beer.

Wine.

2.50 minimum.

"...open your anxious
countdown to a..."

Bud's bop shop.

Right.

2.50 minimum.

"...in the mad rush,
the library yawns.

"Some cat stops you,

begging silver tears..."

You're out
of your fuckin' mind.

"...stains some
noontime café

"with
the final magic

of relativity."

[Audience snaps fingers]

Hey, cassady,
how you doin'?

Hey, man, how are you?

I'm doin'
pretty good.

Hey, uh...
Float me a 20.

I'm going south...
Tonight. O.K.?

I'll get it from swifty
at the five spot.

Let me finish up
here first.

All right,
but, uh... o.K.

All right.

What do you think?

Why?

This is great. This
is what's happenin',
man.

Wait. Wait.
What is this?

Maynard?

This--this is
the scene, man.

I gotta eat,
too, you know.

Give the man
a drink, son.

You're
in the presence
of greatness.

This is
Dean moriarity.

The cat in on the road.

You mean, uh,
kerouac's book?

Wow. Uh, say, man,
you holdin' any boo?

Who?

You know.

Uh, Mary Jane.

Tea. Pot.
Marijuana!

Tell maynard
I'll meet him
at the five spot.

Dean moriarity,
my ass.

Guy doesn't even know
what boo is.

Hey, man.

My man,
I hear you say

you was goin' to
the right--right spot?

Uh-huh...

You mean
the five spot,
huh?

Yeah.

Yeah,
I'm going there
if it's still there.

Know what I mean?

I know what
you mean, man.

[Horn honks]

What, you
need a ride?

Yeah.

O.k., let's get
the fuck outta here,
huh?

Sure it's cool?

Come on.

O.k.

All right.

You really the cat
in that book, man,
they're talkin' about?

Not really, man.

Not really.

Aw, man.

That's a pretty
hep book, man--

swipin' cars,
smokin' reefer.

Man, you're a pretty
famous literary figure,
man,

you know?

Hey, can you get rich
off of that?

What, what?

Do I look rich
to you?

Do I look rich?

Huh?

Hey, man, any dude
who's got two sticks
of reefer

and a wine spoodee-o-Dee's
rich in my opinion.

Well, I'll
tell you somethin'--

I think, I think,
uh...

I think we're
about halfway there.

You know?

Guess the whole
wide world's gonna
want to smoke reefer

when they read
that book, man.

Yeah, well...

Listen.

Everybody wants
to be hip.

I tell ya,
even ol' Jack

wishes he was
a spade.

[Chuckles]

I don't know why, man.

Yeah, me, either.

You can't get no work
but the shit work.

Yeah, well...

Take settin' you up--

you think
I'm proud of that?

Why don't you
pull over?

All right.

[Siren]

Uh...

You ever been
to Mexico?

No, man.

Neither have I.

Thank you.
That'll be all.

I have to go there.

What are you
gonna do, break
him out of jail?

I put him in.

He put himself in.
The man was spoiling
for it.

You don't
even know him.

I read
your goddamn book,
didn't I?

That isn't him.

Oh?

Do you want
to ruin your career?

You've got enough enemies

without hanging around
with narcotics felons.

He'll get five-to-life.

They'll let him out
in two. You can't stop it.

I have a responsibility
to him.

Well, what about
your responsibility
to your work?

We live in less
than liberal times,
my friend.

Send him a check.

[Carolyn]
From friends
we expect loyalty.

From writers,
only sequels.

Neal went to prison.

Jack was sentenced
to posterity.

Something had ended.

They used to call it
"innocence."

[Sitar plays]

[Rock music plays]

* purple haze

* all in my brain

* lately things
don't seem the same *

* I'm actin' funny,
but I don't know why *

* 'scuse me

* while I kiss the sky

* purple haze

[bell rings]

* all around

* don't know if
I'm comin' up or down *

[girl]
Aah! [Girl]
Yahoo!

* am I happy
or in misery? *

* whatever it is

* that girl
put a spell on me *

aah!

Hey, man, how far
to the border?

Mile.

Mile. Mile, mile, mile.

Tamale pie, huh?

Ah, the chiquitas.

Chiquitas, yeah.

[Banging]

Got a leakage
hang-up, you know?

What's your name?

They call me
sunshine.

Sunshine...
I'll tell you what.

I want you to
sneeze in the tires

and, uh, shit
in the radiator.

Huh?

[Telephone rings]

[Ring]

Hello?

Hello, sweetheart.

Did you get the alimony?

Sure did, Neal,
right on time.

I know you're laughin',
Carolyn, but, uh, see...

My I.O.U.'S
good as my word.

Neal, there's
somebody here

I think you might
want to talk to.

Well, uh, see, uh--

it's Jack, Neal.

Hello?

[Sighs]

I'm here, Carolyn.
Uh...

What the hell's
Jack doin' there?

Well, he was down
in Los Angeles.

He hitchhiked, Neal.

He hitchhiked?

That dumb
son of a bitch.

He's not in great shape.
Talk to him.

No, I can't.
Really, honey.

But, Neal, he--

no, no, no.
Can't, Carolyn.

He's not in good shape.

I gotta hang up
'cause it's a pit stop.
You understand?

O.k.

I'll write.

Take care of yourself.

Hey, you know me.

[Man]
Midge, Scotty...

I'm home.

Jack, you better
come on in now.

It's getting cold
outside.

Looks like
they're having a...

Barbecue over there.

Come on in,
Jack.

No. I'll wait here
until the cab comes.

Be warm in Florida.

Guess I never
should've left.

Don't get asked to do
these TV shows much
anymore.

What the hell, huh?

Just felt like
hitchhikin'.

Give it the old...

College try.

Got drunk, gave it
the old college try,

and spent
most of the time
on the bus.

Well, I'm glad
you came, Jack.

You mean it?

Well, of course
I mean it.

We weren't lyin'.

We really love you.

I know that, Jack.

What the hell
did we do wrong?

Oh, I don't think
we did anything wrong.

We just did it first.

[Horn honks]

[Honk honk]

Here's your cab.

Now, Jack, next time
you take the train, o.K.?

Sure.

So, uh...

Neal's hangin' out with
the zippy-bippies, huh?

Yeah. Got
a string of girls

as long as your arm.

He says we were born
before our time.

Before our time?

Yeah.

Well...guy would
say anything
to get laid.

Bye.

[Cab motor starts]

[Carolyn]
Neal thought that life
was destroyed by compromises.

That was his weakness.

Jack thought
it was made by them,

and that was his.

I decided that compromises
are like dental appointments...

You're damned
if you make 'em...

And you're damned
if you don't.