Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976) Movie Script

DORIS: Capistrano

to all units. Stand by.

Suspect vehicle

involved in homicide.

CHP Officer Hutton,

reported northbound I-5.

Vehicle described

as 1965 Ford van,

cream color,

with license L158259.

Two occupants,

one male Caucasian,

one female Caucasian

in their mid-teens.

Units responding,

identify and give

your location.

OFFICER: Capistrano,

this is 86-S4 entering I-5...

PILOT: Capistrano, Air Two.

DORIS: Go ahead, Air Two.

PILOT: Suspect vehicle

in homicide of CHP officer

is in view, northbound I-5

at El Toro Road.

We'll stay on him.

Advise ground units

we have him in sight.

DORIS: Capistrano 86-S1.

86-S1, go ahead.

86-S1, Air Two

has the vehicle in view

at El Toro and is following.

Your position is

approximately three

miles behind suspect.

86-S1, ten-four.

MARCUM: Sunday,

July fourth, 11:05 a.m.

In a few moments,

some of these people

will become

holiday weekend

safety statistics,

participants in a major

smash-up on California's

Interstate 5.

Thirty-nine vehicles

will be involved.

Sixty-two people

will be injured.

Fourteen will die.

Officially, it will be listed

as 11-79, accident caused

by mechanical failure.

Nothing will appear

in the record

about fear, anger,

love, frustration,

about the human factor.

This story is about

that human factor,

about some of those

holiday statistics.

Who they were,

what they did

in the 40-odd hours

that brought them all,

complete strangers,

together to face

their destiny

on Interstate 5.

I'm Sam Marcum, Sergeant,

California Highway Patrol.

I'm one of those statistics.

RADIO HOST:

All right, then, all you

beautiful dolls, be the next

to light up the board

and add fuel to the Fourth

of July fireworks

and sample the sexy

savvy of your big daddy.

Open your hot, little hearts

and tell all, and I do mean,

open your hot, little hearts.

[BLOWING HORN]

I gotta talk to you!

What?

I love you!

I love you, too.

Take the next off-ramp.

What?

The next off-ramp!

[INAUDIBLE]

Hey, honey.

Let's get off

some place.

Hey, cool it. You want

to get us killed?

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

Knock it off.

What? What's the matter?

There's a cop back there.

We gotta get off

the freeway.

Oh!

Hang on, Juno.

We'll be home soon.

Oh, don't worry.

It's just a little one.

I'll be all right.

[HORNS HONKING]

Get down!

Look out!Hold on!

Well, men, on this bright,

sunny, Friday afternoon

the second of July,

you know what we have

ahead of us, don't you?

We have the glorious

Fourth, glorious

to everyone but us.

Oh, incidentally,

there's some rain

down south coming our way

and that creates problems

that we're all

familiar with.

SORRENSON: Little

water on the road.[MEN CHUCKLE]

Yes, Sorrenson,

a little water.

There's gonna be

a lot of senior citizens

driving too slowly,

teenagers driving

too quickly.

There'll be old cars,

bald tires, vapor locks,

and hot tempers.

There will be drunk drivers,

sick babies, and smash-ups.

So, now, we all remember

Marcum's Law, of course.

ALL: Anything that can

go wrong will go wrong!

I'm proud of you, men.

And the speed limit

is still...

ALL: Fifty-five

miles per hour!

Now, let's get out there

and serve with pride.

You too, Sorrenson.

There he is now. Jimmy!

Hello, lady. How you doing?

How you feeling?

Anything happening?

No, not yet.

Um, you forgot

your lunch.

Oh, thank you.

Laureen drove me

over with it.

MARCUM: Officer Hutton!

I and this entire unit

would like to know

what you've done

to this poor child.

[CHUCKLING]

Seriously, I saw you

last night in the supermarket,

and I have never seen

anyone hustle out of

a check-stand so quickly.

So, will you try

a little harder?

You are making nervous

wrecks out of grown men.

I'll do my very best.

Thank you.Sam.

Can I talk to

you a minute?

Uh, may I see

your driver's license,

please?

Oh, shut up.

Listen.

I want to talk to you

about this typical

male attitude of yours.

She's having a baby

and you're nervous?

The way you've been

carrying on about

your kid sister,

you'd think you were

having the baby.

She could get

married first.

Mmm-hmm, you know

I've been trying.

Listen, I gotta get

Barbara home

and then get

to the hospital.

I'm almost late now.

Well, if I finish

work early, I'll stop by.

[MARCUM SIGHS]

She's really getting

uptight, Sam.

You know, I think she's

going to try to get me

to quit the Patrol.

You just got in.Yeah, I did,

but she thinks

you talked me into it.

Would I do a thing like that?

To a nice guy like you?

[FUNKY MUSIC PLAYING]

ERICA: Trudy?

Oh! [CHUCKLING]

Dynamite! I was about

to give up.

I thought you weren't

going to show.

I still don't quite

see this as your scene.

Well, I've had

my share of TV

and sympathy.

It was the same way

with me after my divorce.

Welcome to the rat race.

Booze first, laughs later.

Relax. Just relax

and let it all happen.

[LAUGHING]

Hey, Trudy.Oh, Danny!

Oh, Danny, meet Erica.

We work together

at the lab.

Hi, Erica.

You look terrific.

Well, I do my best.

Dance?

Uh, why not?

[GUN FIRES]

EARL: Stop him! Stop him!

[GUN FIRES][PENNY SCREAMS]

Get out of the way!

Somebody call the cops.

I shot a guy.

I didn't mean to.

It just happened.

How bad are you hurt?

It's funny.

It doesn't hurt at all.

Maybe it's not bad.Let's see.

Let me see!No, it's okay.

Now, come on.

We got to ditch this car.

Somebody might've

gotten the license.

You got to get with it, Erica.

I mean, it's a whole new

ball game.

There are no sides,

no rules. You just got

to keep it loose and easy.

Nothing too personal.

Right. Right on.

You do your thing.

I do mine.

And nobody owes

anybody anything.

That's it!

And it has nothing

to do with love, right?

Right. But it's love

that I'm talking about.

The way it is

right now, you know,

you gotta keep it free,

loose and easy.

Hey kid,

meet Jason.

Hi.

Jason,

meet Erica.

DANNY:

Hey, she's got

great flesh.

Some people have,

some haven't.

You've got great flesh.

You better believe him.

He knows.

He really knows

'cause he's a doctor.

[GIGGLES]

Chiropractor.

Well, nobody's perfect.

[ALL LAUGHING]

TRUDY: I love it!

Oh, I told you about her!

What say to getting

out of here

and going someplace

nice and private?

Uh, give me just a minute

to go to the john, huh?

You got it.

Oh, bud! Will you look

at the lovebirds!

I'll be right back.Okay.

Isn't she great?

Oh, she has a great

sense of humor.

And she really digs

Danny's action.

I imagine.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

DANNY: Hey!

Hey!

Hey, leave it

to old Danny to come up

with a solution, huh?

Hey, I thought we had

a thing going.

Look, it's raining.

It's a madhouse in there.

Why don't we both split,

go somewhere else?

I don't know about you,

Danny Boy, but I'm going home.

Look, uh, Trudy said

you were out of it.

You wanted some laughs,

but it's cool.

I'm not starving,

you know what I mean?

I'm happy for you.

I got a great idea.

Why don't we go down

to my boat?

Just the two of us.

Not tonight. I'm really beat.

Some other time, huh?

[CLASSICAL MUSIC

PLAYING ON RADIO]

What are you doing?

I'm washing the breakfast

dishes for some reason.

Well, come on,

let's get going.

Go do something.

I'll be ready in a minute.

I've done everything.

That's nice.

Go do something else.

I thought of something.Good.

It's some advice that

Prime Minister Disraeli

gave to a young man

who was running

for Parliament.

"My boy," he said,

"The most important thing

I can tell you

"about running

for public office

"is never miss an opportunity

to go to the bathroom."

[CHUCKLING]

Juno?Yes?

I talked

to Allen

and Alisa.

They're going to keep

an eye on the house

while we're gone.

Good.

Did you remember

to pack all our

reading material?

Hey.Oh.

I was just looking

at my years.

Vanity, vanity, thy name

is woman. Ready to go?

Albert, why won't

you tell me where

we're going?

I can't.

It's a big surprise.

There have been

a lot of surprises lately.

You must be guilty

of something.

Whoop, you found out.

I'm keeping another

woman.

Mmm-hmm.

Some young thing

in your history class,

with big eyes.

It's not just her eyes.

Come on. We're going

to have a lot of fun.

Okay, I'll meet you

at the car.

Now what?

Well, if you must know,

I'm going to follow

Prime Minister Disraeli's

advice. If you must know.

FEMALE RADIO DJ: Well, then,

kiddies, it's 10:09 a.m.

on a leaky third of July

and it looks like

the showers are going

to hang in here in San Diego

for a beat, but have no fear.

Just hug your honey closer

and let your favorite

country and western station

in the nation do its thing

and brighten your day.

Hi, which way

you heading?

North.

Well, come on in

out of the rain.

Well, come on.

She gets in back with me.

You just drive, old buddy.

I'm sorry we've got

to do this.

Get going.Yeah, sure.

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

[RADIO CHATTER CONTINUING]

Come on, cut it out.

Hi.Hello.

Would you take it out

of the wallet, please?

Yes, sir.Thank you.

Do you have the registration?

Sure, but it's

not my van.

Where's the owner?In the back.

Okay, Randy,

would you step out

of the vehicle, please?

Yes, sir.

Let's open up the back.

Yes, sir.

Cute.

Yes, sir.

Randy, let's open up

the back.

Sure.

Come on, Randy.

Buzz off. Don't bug us.

Debbie. Debbie.

Come on, Debbie.

Oh! Oh.

Hi, Officer.

Hi. Are you the owner

of this vehicle?

Uh, yes, sir.

All the comforts

of home, huh?

Yes, sir.

Do you people have

any idea what happens

to a vehicle like this

if you have to jam

on the brakes suddenly?

No, sir.Well, I do.

It's not very pretty.

No, sir.

Okay, Randy.

55 miles an hour.

Wow, thanks. I mean,

for not writing us up.

Well, I figure it

like this.

If I write you up,

you'd probably just

pay the fine.

This way, you may

just think about it.

You got it.

No, you almost got it.

Come on,

hurry up.

MALE RADIO HOST:

And on this second day

of the holiday weekend,

so far, traffic accidents

are lower than expected.

There, that's about

the best I can do.

Okay.

You all right,

you think?

[COUNTRY MUSIC

PLAYING ON RADIO]

Pete?[GROANS]

Uh, yeah, terrific.

Hey, he ought to be

in a hospital.

Forget it.

That's what I think.

That's all.

Hey, listen, what's

your name, anyway?

Lee, my name's Lee Bassett.

Oh, yeah? Well, uh,

you just drive, Lee Bassett.

Okay?

Yeah, sure, but,

uh, where?

Just drive! [WHIMPERS]

Get on the freeway

and head north.

Hey, aren't we going

to Big Sur?

We'd be all right there,

wouldn't we?

Now cool it, would you?

I'm trying to think.

You know, he shouldn't

lose much more blood.

Maybe you ought

to see a doctor.

Hey, shut up, both of you.

And turn off that radio.

PENNY: What'll that hurt?

Oh...

Now, somebody

around here better start

listening to me,

or somebody else

is gonna get wasted.

Okay?

Okay, okay.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[PHONE RINGING]

Fantastic.

I thought you'd forgotten

how to do that.

Hello?DONNY: Hi, Erica.

How's it going?

Great. Who's this?

Oh, I thought you'd

remember my voice.

Oh, not offhand.

It's Danny Boy.

Oh, Danny Boy.

I figured you might have

changed your mind.

About what?

The boat! The boat.

It's a great day

for fun and games at sea.

No people, no clothes.

Just us and the big,

blue ocean.

Yeah, well, thanks, but... I'll be by

for you in an hour.

Remember, it's Danny

the Doctor and you gotta

follow the Doctor's orders!

Uh, no...

SUSIE: Hello?Hi, Susie, how are you?

Mom? I'm fine.

Where are you?

I'm in LA.

I just wondered

what you were

doing this weekend.

Nothing much.

Is anything wrong?

Oh, no. I'm great.

I want to get

out of this place.

Thought I might drive down

to San Diego and see you

if you're not busy.

Oh, I'm seeing Jeff

but we're not doing

anything special.

Like tomorrow

we're celebrating

the Fourth of July

by watching the dolphins

jump through red, white

and blue hoops.

Jeff's a SeaWorld freak!

Hey, you can come with us.

He won't mind.

Oh, well, I don't want

to interrupt your plans.

Oh, Mom, stop.

I really want to see you.

When can you come?

Well, I could

leave right away.

Drive carefully.

I've been listening

to the traffic bulletins

and the holiday

jam is murder!

I will. Thank you, Susie.

See you in a few hours.

Bye.

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

Hey, you're gonna

have to move on.

Just like it says.

No parking.

[REVVING ENGINE]

Nice engine

you got there, honey.

Really.Okay, let's move on.

Listen, Officer,

we're waiting

for our friend.

If we don't stay here,

he won't know

where to find us.

He should be along

pretty soon.

Just like all

the rest of the cops.

Anybody on a bike,

they ought to be dead, right?

Well, I'm sorry, you're

going to have to work

it out some other way.

Can't park here.

Just you listen.

Hey, hey,

here's Roach now.

[ALL SHOUTING GREETINGS]

Where you been?

Trucking around,

chasing elephants.

Having a good time.

Hey, where's the

action? [LAUGHS]

Hey, where's

your old lady?I don't know. We had a fight.

Aw, poor baby!

[ALL LAUGHING]

Who hit you,

Roach?

Told you a million times,

you got to say please to Lucy.

Okay, okay,

your friend is here.

Now why don't

you all get moving?

Get moving

where?

Away!Ha! Away.

Come on, babe.Away, right?

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

DISPATCHER:

86-506, Capistrano.

86-506, go ahead.

86-506. Guess what, Jim

Hutton. Your wife's on the way

to Capistrano Hospital.

Code Two.

86-506, ten-four. En route!

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

You, in the gray

Oldsmobile.

Pull over.

Your right rear tire

is going flat.

Hey, it's a cop.

We got to pull over.

Keep driving.Hey, but he said

to pull over.

I said keep driving!

Capistrano, 86-506.

DISPATCHER: 86-506, go ahead.

Capo, any further news

about my wife?

86-506, negative.

Hey, stay cool, Hutton.

I'll keep you posted.

506, ten-four.

Hey, it's that cop again.

He's right behind me

with his lights flashing.

What do you want me to do?

Pete!

Hey, I got to pull over.

Pete? Pete!

Here he comes.

It's a cop. Hide the gun.

Didn't you hear me

back there? I told you

to pull over.

Uh, yes, sir.

[PENNY SCREAMS]

Drive!

Move it or I'll kill you!

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

Oh, God. [BREATHING HEAVILY]

Why isn't Jimmy here?

He promised

he would be here.

Come on now,

come on now, push.

Push!

Come on. Remember

all those classes,

all those practice sessions?

Just do what you learned.

[STRAINING]

Oh! I'm so sorry

but I don't want to push.

I don't want to push.

I want to scream.

They didn't...

They didn't teach us

screaming.

Where is Jimmy?

He said that he would

be here.

Don't give up

now, Barbara.

You're doing fine.

You're almost there.

Just keep pushing.

Don't waste your energy

talking. Put your energy

into pushing.

You're doing great,

Barbara.

Keep it coming.

Good.

Not so fast now.

Easy, easy.

Here it comes.

No pushing now.

Don't push, Barbara.

Just let it come slowly.

Blow, blow.

Okay. That's it.

Here comes the head.

That's it. Good.

Just a little more.

You can do it.

A little more.

[STRAINING]

[BARBARA CRYING]

Okay.

You can do it!

You're doing it.

It's almost over.

Look! Honey, look,

there's your baby.

Here we are

and you've got

a little boy.

[BABY CRYING]

It's over.

Look, look at...

There's your baby.

[CRYING]

[MOUTHING]

Look at him.

Look at him!

Okay, sleepy-head,

time to move.

Let's get you

in your bed.

How you doing?

Good.

You still want to go

dancing tonight?

No.[LAUGHS]

There you go.

All right, I'll be back

to see you later.

Thank you.

We did it.

I'm so proud of you.

Good girl.

You know you made me

an aunt?

I know.

Oh, I want Jimmy

to be here, too.

Where do you suppose

he is?

Don't worry,

he'll be here.

Poor Jimmy.

All those practice sessions

and now he's missed

the main event.

Hey, you get a little

sleep now, all right?

Okay.All right.

He looks just like Jimmy.

I know.

Six pounds... Excuse me,

six-pound, eight-ounce boy.

Looks just like

the father.

Boy, it doesn't take

you long to find out

things, does it?

No, no it doesn't.

How's Barbara?

She's fine.Well, that's good.

Where the heck is Jimmy?I don't know. He should be

charging in any minute.

Hey, I'm on duty, you know.

You're on duty?Yeah.

Come on,

let's go in there.Okay.

Hi.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Oh, Sam. [SIGHS]

Why does everything

have to be so

complicated with us?

Because you make it

that way.

You're the one that

complicates it.

Look at Jimmy.

Look at Barbara.

They met,

they fell in love,

they got married,

and now they have a son.

You know I envy him,

don't you?

Of course I do.

You know that.

Well?

I wish I could look

at life the way Barbara

does, but I can't.

You know what it is?

[CLEARING THROAT]

It's working here

in this hospital.

All the pain,

all the suffering.

Quit. Just walk out.

Let's start a family.

Thank you.

It has nothing

to do with my job.

You know the deal.

I'll marry you

any time you say.

But if we're going

to have a family,

and I want one, Sam.

You do, too, I know.

Then you're going to have

to take that promotion

and get off the road.

Sam, I want my kids

to be able to kiss their

daddy good bye

in the morning

and know they're gonna

see him again that night.

I can't make it

behind a desk.

I've tried. You know I tried.

I just can't make it

behind a desk, that's all.

You're just being

pig-headed.

You're the one that's

being pig-headed.[SIGHS]

You're trying

to change my life.

I'm not trying

to change your life.

Sam, I'm trying to keep it.

Can't you understand that?

WOMAN: [ON PA]

Sergeant Marcum,

Sergeant Marcum.

There's an emergency

call for you,

Sergeant Marcum.

We'll talk about it later.

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

I'm sorry, Sam.

How did it happen?

You got anything?

Not much. We have

a witness. Gave us

a description of the car.

Gray Olds.

Not much more.

How did it happen?

What did you see?

Did you see anybody

else in the vehicle?

Anybody in the car?

Easy, Sam.

He doesn't speak

much English.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

I'm sure he told me all

he knows. I'll go over it

with him again in a minute.

Did you get

a description out

on the vehicle?

Yeah, it's on the air.

What else did

the witness say?

He saw Hutton stop

the Olds, walk up to it.

Bang, they shot him.

Just like that?

Just like that.

If you hear anything,

anything at all,

you call me at the hospital.

What the hell am I

gonna tell his wife?

You know, she just

had the baby today?

[CAR STARTING]

Sam?

Jimmy.

Where's Jimmy?

Why isn't Jimmy here?

Somebody better tell me.

Barbara, there was

a shooting incident.

He was on his way here.

There was a shooting

incident.

Shot?

BARBARA: He's dead.

He was on his way

over here.

Oh, God.

Oh, God. He never got

to see the baby.

He's dead. He never even

got to see the baby.

What is this place?

Well, madam, welcome

to the Casbah West.

Pepe le Moko is waiting.

Played by Charles Boyer

or Tony Martin?

Played by yours truly.

Madam, welcome home.

What? Oh, my God.

[EXCLAIMING]

Albert! Al.

You can't do that.

I'm doing it.

Oh!

Well, how do you like it?

[EXCLAIMS]

How do you like it?Whose is it?

Ours.

Oh, you big, dumb,

beautiful jackass.

I knew you'd like it.

Oh, it's wonderful, Albert.

It's just beautiful.

But how can we

afford it?

We can only be here

weekends.

Well, Juno,

I am taking

a sabbatical.

I'm taking the whole year off.

We can be here as much

as we want to be.

I think I'm gonna cry.

Well, before you start,

how would you like

to check out the view

from the bed?

I beg your pardon?

Just a suggestion.[LAUGHING]

How far am I

supposed to go?

We got to fix that tire.

Pete. Pete.[GROANING]

We've gotta

do something.

Yeah, I know.

Hey!

[SCREAMING]

What are you doing?

LEE: Just sit there

and shut up!

Look what

you did to him.

What I did to him?

He shot a cop,

for God's sakes! A cop!

I was with him!

That makes me

an accessory.

If you help him,

I'll tell them the truth.

Ha, you think they're

going to believe you?

I'm on parole right now.

Not for any killing,

but I ripped off a car.

God knows

what you been into.

Hey, where you going?

We got to get him to a doctor.

I can pay you.

I've got money.

I just met him.

He was going to get

some money so we could

go to Big Sur.

I didn't know

he had a gun.

I didn't know that guy

would get shot

in the liquor store.

I didn't know.

Please don't leave me.

Wow. This is a lot of bread.

Should help.

What are you gonna do?

Stay there and shut up.

[SULTRY MUSIC PLAYING]

DEBBIE: I think

somebody's there!Huh?

I heard the door open.

Hi.

[ENGINE RATTLING]

Oh, no!

Not bad.

Hey, Roach.

Got a new girl for you.

Why me, huh?

Give me a break,

will you?

Loosen up.

Get out of here.

Come on. Let's see

what's happening.

Later.

Let's go.Naw, I'm going

to sit here.

Watch my bike, man.

Hi, honey.

Dynamite car you got here.

Why won't it run?

Ran out of gas.

Well, that's no problem.

We'll give you some.

You just get in

and steer.

Hey, guys, let's push her

over to the bikes, huh?

BIKER: Come on, come on.

Let's get this rolling.

[ALL CLAMORING]

What are them

dumb broads doing?

Hey, man, let's go

see her. Come on.

Just relax, honey.

[LAUGHING]

Hey, Roach. Come on,

the lady here needs

some help, come on.

What's the matter with you?

You forget how to help

a lady?

What? Hey!Come on!

[REVVING ENGINE]

[ALL CLAMORING]

Hey, hold it! Hold It!

Hold it! Come on, Burnsey.

Cut it out.

Forget you, Andy!

Where do you think

you're going, sweetheart?

[EXCLAIMS]

[BIKERS LAUGH AND CHEER]

BURNSEY: Get her, fellas!

[ALL CLAMORING]

[INDISTINCT]

[HORNS HONKING]

Hey, miss,

you all right?

What's it to

you, fella?

Get out of here,

you little stooge.

You going to let

him push me

around like that?

Hey, man,

what do you think

you're doing, huh?

Look what he's

done to Andy!

All right,

let's get him.Yeah, come on.

[SIRENS APPROACHING]

Hey, are you

all right?

More or less.

DORIS: 86-S1,

Capistrano. 86-S1.

Car matching description

of vehicle involved in

Officer Hutton's homicide,

reported presently

approaching junction I-5

and 101, headed north.

86-S1, ten-four.

Hey, it's okay,

everything's going

to be all right.

Did you, uh,

bring any other

clothes with you?

In my car.

Okay, we'll go look

for a place

for you to stay

and then I'll come on back

and pick up the car later.

My name is Dale.

Erica.

Listen, Erica,

let me ask you

something.

Come here often?

[LAUGHING] No.

Well, it wasn't that funny,

but, uh, I'll warm up

a little later.

It just takes

me a while, you know.

[VAN DOORS SLAM]

Yeah, it's not

bad at all.

We're just going

to leave Pete

here like that?

Well, I am.

I don't know

about you.

Yeah, but what am

I supposed to do?

I don't care.

Hitch another ride.

Go home.

I can't!

They threw me out.

Please, I don't even

know where I am.

You can't just leave me

here alone with him.

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

Take me with you.

I don't care where.

I'm just no good alone.

How'd you get to be

such a mess, anyway?

All right, get in.

Come on.

Remember when

we used to swim,

way far out?

Yeah, I'm hungry.

I didn't bring

anything.

I did.

Now, you come here

and sit right

down there

and don't let

anybody steal

our ocean.

What are you

up to now?

You'll find out.

I'll be right back.

And save me

a place.

[GROANS]

[CLASSICAL PIANO

MUSIC PLAYING]

Albert, that's our Chopin,

the Nocturne in B Major.

I, uh, hoped

you'd remember.

I'll always remember.

You played it the first

time we made love.

We played it

five times.[GIGGLES]

[IN FRENCH ACCENT]

Pepe le Moko

thinks of everything.

Now, what's that?

Voila!

Would you like

to deal those?

And with the nocturne.

And it was a very good

year for nocturne.

Champagne, I remember.

And...

And caviar!

And that was

only the beginning.

You all right?

Oh, yes, really,

I'm just happy.

I'm really just

so damn happy.

So am I.

FEMALE DISPATCHER:

Capistrano, 86-S1.

86-S1, go ahead.

Officer Berman,

has definite ID.

Oldsmobile used

in Hutton homicide.

86-S1, ten-four.

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

He's dead, Sam.

My guess would be

about an hour.

The coroner and

the local homicide guys

are on the way.

Anything on

the vehicle yet?

Yeah, it's stolen.

San Diego.

Best I could tell

without moving the body

there's no ID.

Not very much

to go on, is there?

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

Hey, turn

that thing down,

will you?

There's somebody

in there.

You got the keys?

No keys,

we couldn't find any.

Get a tire iron.

[KNOCKING ON TRUNK]

Hang on, we'll get you out.

SAM: Oh, my God.

Help me get them

out of here.

Get an

ambulance.

Hang up while

I get my car.

More, please, sir.Sure!

If I'd known you like

champagne this much

we'd have had it every day.

Oh, I wouldn't

want it every day.

You see, champagne

is very special

and if I had it every day,

then it wouldn't

be special anymore.

And if you keep on

losing special things,

then finally,

nothing's left

that's special.

I think that's your

fourth glass.

Peter Piper picked a peck

of pickled peppers.

If Peter Piper picked a peck

of pickled peppers,

how many picks of

peckled peepers,

[LAUGHING]

how many pecks,

how many...

I'll drink to that.

You know where

we're going tonight?

Uh... The south of France.

Nope. You and I

are gonna get

all dressed up

and we're going to that

big, new hotel and we

are going to dance

to music that

we can recognize.

Benny Goodman?

Mmm. Not quite.

But would you settle

for, uh...

Lou Rudolfo and

his South Pasadena

Blue Blowers?

Well, since we are

gonna go dancing,

we ought to

take a little nap.

Now, I'll clean up.

It's my party.

You stay here

and rest.

[SINGING SOFTLY]

[SINGING AND WHISTLING]

Juno?

Hey!

Juno!

Mr. Pearson,

you're still here.

Your wife's going

to be all right now.

We've given her something.

She'll sleep right through

the night.

Wouldn't it be better

if you came back

tomorrow morning?

No, I think I'll

stay with her.

All right.

ERICA: I don't

believe you.

DALE: Do you have something

against truck drivers?

No, it's just, I don't

believe that you quit medical

school to become one.

Well, when I was

about eight years old,

my dad got me

one of those little

medical doctor kits,

know, with the

plastic stethoscope

and the peppermint pills.

You know the kind.

I tell you, I was the best kid

on my whole block

at playing doctor

and that's the truth.

And I tell you, I also, uh,

I never thought of being

anything but a doctor,

for, I suppose,

about 18 years.

Until one day,

I was in a lab

in Syracuse, New York,

and was dissecting

a heart,

laying open

the pulmonary valve,

the heart,

the engine of life.

And I thought, "What the hell

else do I know about life?"

Me, too.

You, too, what?

[STAMMERING]

Um, well...

Thinking about...

Asking questions

about life,

at the end of

a long marriage

going nowhere.

Only, I must say,

I never thought of

becoming a truck driver.

Well, maybe you should.

Pay's very good.

Besides, and you're out

on the open road.

You do a lot of thinking,

a lot of imagining.

About what?

Oh, about all the great things

there are to do in this world

besides dissecting hearts

and filling teeth.

Like what?

Like...

You really want to know?

Sure.

Okay.

Like sleeping in the

Great Pyramid

at Cheops, in Egypt.

Yeah, well,

that's something

to think about.

No, but I really went.

I really did it.

You went to Egypt?Yes.

And you slept in a pyramid?

That's right.

And what happened?

Ah, dreams, dreams

you wouldn't believe.

I believe.

Thank you.

And today, I rescued

a beautiful damsel

in distress

who will now dance

with me, I hope.

Then, next month,

I'm headed for

Australia.

You're kidding.

What, you don't believe me?

Then why don't you come along?

Well, you're, uh,

still young.

You can afford

to be romantic.

Sure, so can you.

Oh, you don't

believe that either?

You're very beautiful,

you know.

Otherwise why would

I bother to stop

and pick you up?

You cannot

go through life

from one adventure

to another.

Why not? What's better?

A long marriage

that's going nowhere?

Well, now

that's not fair.

My husband

was not a bad man.

It's just we grew apart.

My fault, too.

Oh, Erica.

You're free,

you're single.

Uh, with a daughter

almost your age.

Hey, lady,

I am not interested

in your daughter.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

Dale, my husband...

left me

for a girl of 22,

so when you say...There you go again

with the numbers game.

Twenty-two.

Forty-one.

Sixty-eight. Hike!

So what?

So when you were

that, uh,

little 8-year-old boy

with a doctor bag,

I was probably

eight months pregnant.

Well, if that's the case,

I have to agree with you.

We would have made

a very unusual couple.

Oh, Erica.

It's not what they think.

It's what we feel.

Let me tell you

what I feel right now.

Um, I'm not sure

I want to hear it.

Well, I'm going

to tell you anyway.

Right now, I just want

to take you someplace

and I really want...Mmm-mmm.

[GUITAR PLAYING]

Hello.

What were

you doing?

Oh, I'll tell

you later.

Like the man said,

you're in good hands.

I wish we could

have gotten orange.

It's the only kind

I like.

It's all I could get.

Want some pizza?

You sure

we're safe here?

Oh, yeah.

For the night,

anyway.

We'll split early

in the morning.

Can we go

to Big Sur?

MAN: Hey, let's have

another beer![WOMAN LAUGHS]

Feel my heart.

It's fantastic.

It's right

on the ocean,

with big hills,

and cliffs

and rocks that go

right into the sea.

What are you

talking about?

Big Sur, dummy, you know.

You must really like

that place. What's

so special about it?

It's got seals and birds

and sometimes the whales

come right along the coast

on their way to Baja.

It's really nature.

Hey, could we camp

out there?

Oh, yeah, it's

a fantastic place

for camping

and we could hide out there

and nobody would bother us.

You know, you're like

a little kid sometimes.

It's hard to believe

you hitchhiked all the way

across the country,

stayed in those

communes.

Can we go there

in the morning?

Everybody says

it's fabulous.

You mean you've never

even been there?

Well, not actually.

But, I feel

like I have.

I mean, I've heard about

Big Sur for years

and once I saw a book

with a lot of pictures of it.

I just know that when

I get there, everything is

going to be all right for me.

We've just gotta go.

You know, you're really

something Penny.

You're a little nuts,

but you're

really something.

You asleep?

Mmm.

I was just thinking

about tomorrow,

our Fourth of July.

We're going to have

so much fun.

We're gonna laugh

and eat tortillas...

You like tortillas?

Mmm!Okay, eighty-six

the tortillas.

We're definitely going

to drink beer in

Capistrano though

and watch the swallows

nest in the mission

and shoot off firecrackers,

I love firecrackers,

since I'm a kid.

Or, plan B,

we can stay here in bed

and make love all day.

Mmm.

Then, day after tomorrow,

I could pick up a load

in San Diego and we can

drive to Texas.

Texas?

Yeah.

We can make love

in the Grand Canyon

along the way.

You are a beautiful

man, Dale,

and you live in a beautiful

world of dreams and

you've included me.

And I love it.Oh, but they're

not dreams, Erica.

You come with me

and I'll prove it.

They're not dreams.

I don't want to think

about tomorrow.

Let's just hold on

to tonight.

This is crazy.Hmm?

I must be crazy.

You don't meet a man

and go to bed with him

the same night.

I don't. I'm crazy.

Well, you look

pretty good to me

for a crazy lady,

let me tell you.

Oh, good lord,

what time is it?

It's 12:15, why?

Oh, I forgot to call Susie.

She's expecting me to come.

You still trying

to fix me up

with your daughter?

Uh, Susie, uh, no, no.

I'm fine.

I just thought

I'd let you know there's

a change in plans.

I won't be there tonight.

I do?

Well, I don't know.

I'll let you know

when I find out.

Okay, bye.

You'll never guess

what she said.

She said, "I hope it's

because you got lucky."

How did you know?

Well, did you, hmm?

[CHUCKLES]

I'll let you know

when I find out.

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

It's okay.

When we were

getting the pizza,

I switched the plates

with another van

that was there.

Hey, where is

everybody?

They went on to San Diego.

We'll meet them there.

Not me, not

the way I feel.

Oh, come on, Andy.

You're okay.

Okay?

Eighteen stitches

and a concussion,

why do you think

they held me

overnight?

Well, listen, if you

feel that bad, I'll

drive the bike.

The hell you will.

Nobody rides

my bike but me.

Look, I'm gonna get

some breakfast and

head back to LA.

I want to go

to San Diego!

Everybody's waiting

for us there.

We'll have a ball.

You coming or staying?

See you around.

You'd really do it,

wouldn't you?

Damn right.

You know, somebody should

have knocked you in the head

a long time ago.

How is she?

We finally got her to sleep

early this morning.

What about you?

Have you had

any sleep?

No, but we got

everything covered.

We're going

to get this guy.

You look like you're

half dead. Why don't

you take a break?

We'll go down to the

cafeteria, have a

little breakfast,

let somebody else

take over for

a while, all right?

Mmm-mmm. Not this one.

No one is going to

take this one over.

Sam, you can hardly

keep your eyes open.

What are you going to do?

Go on the freeway,

drive a hundred miles an hour,

maybe get in a shootout

and then you're

going to get killed?

Wait a minute,

wait a minute.

We've been through

all this before.

It's my job, Laureen.

Yeah, it's the way

you want it, Sam,

the way you've

always wanted it.

I guess the way you always

will want it. Well, I can't

live with it anymore.

Laureen.Stop kidding

yourself, will you?

You're nothing but

a big kid, you like going

out and driving fast

and having bad guys

shoot at you.

That's right.

I work out there on

that road and you're

right, I do like it.

Well, find yourself

another lady, Sam.

Find somebody

who'll have your kids.

Find somebody who

can live with the fact

that the next time

she sees you,

you may be dead.

Here we go,

Mrs. Pearson.

Thank you.

Oh, I really don't know

what I was thinking.

I just wanted to go

swimming. I didn't

want you to stop me.

Maybe it was

the champagne,

my head was full

of so many things,

and when I was

in the ocean,

it felt so good,

so good and clean

and I just kept swimming

the way I used to,

on and on.

Oh, Juno.

Albert, we both

know I don't

have much time.

We don't talk about it,

but it may be

only a few months,

that's why you you've

been doing all these

sweet things for me, I know.

My darling,

I didn't want you

to have to wait

for me to die

and spend all that

we've saved trying to make

my last days beautiful.

I wanted to

save you all that.

I just wanted to

make it easier

and quicker.

I understand,

but don't you know...

I value every

moment with you,

every moment.

And so do I, with you.

Albert,

can we go

back home now?

I want very much

to be home with you.

Sure.

[DALE SINGING]

Tomorrow, tomorrow we can drop

your car off in San Diego,

and hit the road by noon.

And where will we

be tomorrow night?

Ah, tomorrow night.

I know this great little

spot just out of

Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

Bougainvillea

on the windows,

nice cantina right

across the road.

Did you ever see the

desert sky at night?

It's a bowl of stars.

And what happens

when we get to Texas?

What do you mean,

what happens?

What do we do?

Where do we stay?

We'll, uh, worry

about that when

the time comes.

I can't do it, Dale.

You can't do what?

I can't go with you.

I'm going back

to Los Angeles.

Hey, wait a minute now,

just, just wait a minute.

Now, last night

you said

that you couldn't

jump into bed with

a guy you just met

and you did and

it was beautiful.

Now, you're turning

this into a

one night stand

and I thought that

you wanted something

more than that.

I do.

But it's just too soon.

What do you got to lose?

A boring job, an empty house,

what, what?

I know you're right.

I wish I had the courage,

but I don't.

You don't do it now,

you never will.

Not even breakfast?

I'm sorry.

Don't mention it.

Uh, Capistrano,

this is 86-503.

FEMALE DISPATCHER:

86-503, go ahead.

Uh, 11, 28, 10, 29.

License plate

L158259, please check.

He's still

following us!

Oh, relax, the plates

check out to another

van, remember?

Don't worry about it.

Capistrano, ten-four.

Next stop, Big Sur.

Give me a peanut.

Damn it! No!

[HONKING HORN]

Hey, Sam, got

anything yet?Nothing.

You know, I thought I saw

the van we're looking for,

same color and everything,

even had a couple

of kids in it.

License didn't check.

This one had a sign

painted on the back,

"This Van Rated X."

What?

Oh, damn it, how the hell

could I forget about it?

Where was it?

It was the wrong

license number.Where the hell was it!

The Ortega on-ramp,

they got on the freeway

heading north.

Get on the radio.

That's the van.

[TIRES SCREECHING]

DORIS: Capistrano

to all units. Stand by.

Suspect vehicle

involved in homicide.

CHP Officer Hutton,

reported northbound I-5.

Vehicle described

as 1965 Ford van,

cream color,

with license L158259.

Two occupants,

one male Caucasian,

one female Caucasian

in their mid-teens.

Units responding,

identify and give

your location.

OFFICER: Capistrano,

this is 86-S4 entering I-5...

PILOT: Capistrano, Air Two.

DORIS: Go ahead, Air Two.

PILOT: Suspect vehicle

in homicide of CHP officer

is in view, northbound I-5

at El Toro Road.

We'll stay on him.

Advise ground units

we have him in sight.

DORIS: Capistrano 86-S1.

86-S1, go ahead.

86-S1, Air Two

has the vehicle in view

at El Toro and is following.

Your position is

approximately three

miles behind suspect.

86-S1, ten-four.

RADIO HOST:

All right, then, all you

beautiful dolls, be the next

to light up the board

and add fuel to the Fourth

of July fireworks

and sample the sexy

savvy of your big daddy.

Open your hot, little hearts

and tell all, and I do mean,

open your hot, little hearts.

[BLOWING HORN]

I gotta talk to you!

What?

I love you!

I love you, too.

Take the next off-ramp.

What?

The next off-ramp!

[INAUDIBLE]

Hey, honey.

Let's get off

someplace.

Hey, cool it. You want

to get us killed?

[INDISTINCT POLICE

RADIO CHATTER]

Knock it off.

What? What's the matter.

There's a cop back there.

We gotta get off

the freeway.

Oh!

Hang on, Juno.

We'll be home soon.

Oh, don't worry.

It's just a little one.

I'll be all right.

[CRASHING]

Get down!

Look out!Hold on!

Sam!

You okay, Sam?Yeah, yeah I'm okay.

He's dead.

How about the girl?

PILOT: [ON RADIO]

Sergeant Marcum, Sergeant

Marcum, can you hear me?

We can control traffic

from the air.

Air Two to ground units,

fire rescue and paramedics

are en route.

Albert?

Oh, please God,

no, no!

We'll get you out, ma'am.

Put this man

on the ground.

ESTEVEZ: Sam, over here!

Air Two to ground units.

Southbound traffic,

keep moving. Southbound

traffic, keep moving.

I repeat, southbound traffic,

do not slow down.

Albert.

Albert!

Dale!

We need another

extinguisher, hurry up!

Dale! Get him out of there!

You got to get him out!

Hold it, lady.

There's a man in there.

You got to get him out!

Andy. Andy! Oh, no!

There's a man

in there,

come on!

MAN: Get that hose

over here, let's go!

MAN OVER PA:

Stay with your car

until a Highway Patrol Officer

gives you instructions.

Where's, Sam?Right over there,

with the tow truck.

Now...

Now will you go

to Texas with me?

MAN: Get a blanket

over here!

MAN: She's bleeding!

Hey, move that ambulance

out of here, will you?

Would you hurry up

with this thing?

Sam, oh, look at you.

Oh, that's nothing.Let me get it cleaned up.

It'll just take a

minute, come on.All right, clean it up.

Southbound traffic,

do not slow down.

How did this all happen?

My God!

I seen your car

over there...

I thought...

It hurts.

Sorry.

It's all right?

Let's get back

to work, huh?

All right.

MARCUM:

At 11:09 a.m., July fourth,

a major smash-up

occurred on Interstate 5

in the state of California.

Thirty-nine vehicles,

62 people injured,

14 killed.

Officially, it will be

listed as 11-79,

accident due to

mechanical failure.

Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976) - full transcript