Cruisin' Back to the 1950S

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Cruisin’ Back to the 1950s

Book by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus Music and Lyrics by Bill Francoeur

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On all programs, printing and advertising, the following information must appear: 1. The full name of the musical 2. The full name of the playwrights and composer/arranger 3. The following notice: “Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado” HOT ROD

CRUISIN’ BACK TO THE 1950S

Book by FLIP KOBLER and CINDY MARCUS Music and lyrics by BILL FRANCOEUR

CAST OF CHARACTERS # of lines PEGGY SUE ...... our heroine; former mechanic 227 and racer, she now dreams of a bigger life BETTY LOU ...... Peggy Sue’s little sister; tired 84 of living in her sib’s shadow SHERIFF STONE ...... town cop who wants to clean 30 up the streets (M) DEPUTY DILLON ...... fountain of useless trivia (M or F) 11 JENKINS ...... crotchety owner of the music 35 store (M or F) MOMMA MO ...... old Russian immigrant; runs 17 Mo’s Garage and Junkyard DAYTONA BOB ...... local bad-guy bookie; fancies 62 himself an intellectual but his fancy is broken CHORUS ...... as BILL THE BUTCHER and EXTRA PREPPIES, GEARHEADS, GREASERS, 45ERS, KIDS in the malt shop and BACKUP SINGERS

THE PREPPIES (Peggy Sue’s new college-bound friends) PEYTON ...... exuberant future sorority 24 president; best friend in the history of all space and time! NIGEL ...... bound for pre-law; uses 57 18-carat words (M) BIFFY...... shopaholic on the loose with 35 her Daddy’s credit card

ii THE GEARHEADS (Peggy Sue’s former mechanic friends) JACK ...... Peggy Sue’s former boyfriend; 61 he’d still like to be

VELOCITY ...... talks in car analogies (M or F) 36

TURBO ...... mouth is as fast as the cars he 12 ﬁ xes (M or F) BOOSTER ...... all that time under the hood has 30 affected his hearing (M or F)

BETTY LOU’S FRIENDS PORTIA ...... has a tendency to narrate life 15 like a Nascar announcer (F) EDSEL ...... only speaks in sound effects 14 (M or F)

THE GREASERS (Daytona Bob’s henchmen) CASTROL ...... the tough enforcer type 11 PENZ ...... always impersonating movie stars 13

QUAKER ...... can never guess Penz’s 16 impersonations

THE 45ERS

(Kids who hang out at the local record store) HI-TONE ...... talks in 50s slang and has to 15 own every record ever made (M or F) WAXX ...... doesn’t get Hi-Tone’s obsession 12 (M or F) FLAIR ...... thinks he knows the most 22 about musical groups (M or F) VICTOR (or VICKIE) ...... actually knows the most about 20 musical groups (M or F)

iii SETTING Time: The 1950s, of course. Place: Any town. There are three recurring sets: a record store, a malt shop and a garage. Sets can be dressed up as much as desired, but at a minimum, Jenkins Music Store should have a counter with a rotary phone, a record player and a table with bins of 45s on it. The malt shop need only have a couple of tables and chairs with various malt glasses, etc., a counter and a jukebox. Mo’s Garage and Junkyard can be represented by a sign and an oil drum. The rest of the locations are played either in front of the curtain or on a bare stage.

STAGING SUGGESTIONS There are several ways to handle the repeated set changes between the music store, the malt shop and the garage. Whichever approach you use, speed is of the essence. Scenes should ﬂ ow smoothly from one to another to maintain the energy of the show. Entrances and exits are ﬂ uid.

1. You might consider putting the three main sets on wagons to be

rolled on and off.

2. If your stage is large enough, you could use area staging and perhaps add platforms of various heights. 3. You could have a backdrop that depicts the three store fronts. The main playing area of the stage becomes whichever locale

the scene requires. Nimble stagehands can quickly set onstage

properties for each scene.

4. You could scatter three or four periactoids across the stage. Periactoids are three-sided columns on casters, each side painted to represent one of the three sets. Stagehands rotate the pillars according to the scene.

iv PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

ACT ONE

Scene One: Jenkins Music Store, one afternoon. Scene Two: The malt shop, the same day.

Scene Three: Jenkins Music Store, the next day. Scene Four: The malt shop, immediately following. Scene Five: On the street (in front of curtain), immediately following. Scene Six: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, later that day.

ACT TWO Scene One: The malt shop, the next day. Scene Two: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, the same day. Scene Three: Malt shop, later that day. Scene Four: Racetrack (bare stage or in front of curtain), the next day. Scene Five: Backroom Alley (in front of curtain), immediately following. Scene Six: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, that evening. Scene Seven: Malt shop, about the same time.

Scene Eight: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, immediately following.

Scene Nine: Malt shop, immediately following. Scene Ten: Jenkin’s Music Store, the next day. Scene Eleven: Skeleton Alley (bare stage), that evening.

v SEQUENCE OF MUSICAL NUMBERS

PROLOGUE MC1 Hot Rod--Cruisin’ Back to the 1950s ...Ensemble

ACT ONE MC2 Alpha Delta Pi ...... Peggy Sue, Nigel, Peyton, Biffy,

Chorus

MC3 You’re Missin’ Out ...... Peggy Sue, Betty Lou, Portia, Edsel MC4 This Is My Turf...... Daytona Bob, Penz, Quaker, Castrol, Chorus MC5 Checkered Flag ...... Ensemble

ACT TWO MC5a Entr’acte—Alpha Delta Pi ...... Instrumental MC6 A Blast from the Past ...... Ensemble MC7 Trial Run ...... Gearheads, Mo, Betty Lou, Portia, Edsel, Chorus MC8 Breakdown ...... Daytona Bob, Penz, Quaker, Castrol, Chorus MC9 You’ll Always Be a Part of Me ...... Jack, Peggy Sue MC9a You’ll Always Be a Part of Me (Music Tag) ...... Instrumental MC10 Work, Work All Together ...... Jack, Peggy Sue, Preppies, Gearheads, Chorus MC11 The Race ...... Ensemble MC11a Curtain Call—Checkered Flag ...... Ensemble

vi HOT ROD

PROLOGUE 1 HOUSELIGHTS DOWN: MUSIC CUE 1: “Hot Rod—Cruisin’ Back to the 1950s.” We hear a HOT ROD STARTING and REVVING its engine and then PEELING OUT as if in a drag race. After the music introduction, we again hear a HOT ROD REVVING its engine. LIGHTS UP as the 5 ENSEMBLE ENTERS LEFT and RIGHT, down the aisle of the auditorium,

etc. They are excited, laughing and chatting as they come together DOWNSTAGE in front of the curtain. ALL: (Sing.) Hear the rumblin’ of the engine, it’s about to make the scene. 10 Hear the rumblin’ of the engine, it’s a powerful machine. This four-barrel block with a four thirteen’s, Goin’ back-a to the nifty nineteen fi fties! Hot rod, customized and ready. Come on and take a little ride with me. 15 Hot rod, lookin’ mighty steady. We’re gonna travel back in history. BOYS: (Sing. To GIRLS.) So grab yourself a poodle skirt! GIRLS: (Sing. To BOYS.) And don’t forget your dungarees! ALL: (Sing.) Goin’ back-a to the nineteen fi fties! 20 GIRLS: (Sing.) Ponytails, bobbysox, pedal pushers. ALL: (Sing.) Goin’ back-a to the nineteen fi fties! Don’t be a square! Better be there! We double dare! Yes, goin’ back-a to the nineteen fi fties! BOYS: (Sing.) Ducktails, blue jeans, lettermen sweaters. 25 ALL: (Sing.) Goin’ back-a to the nineteen fi fties! Hey, Daddy-o, we gotta go! Be there or be square!

(The ENSEMBLE quickly builds a “human hot rod.” One actor holds a steering wheel. Another holds up a rear view mirror with two furry dice dangling from it. Two others hold FLASHLIGHTS [maybe large 30 9-volt battery ﬂ ashlights] for headlights. The rest of the ENSEMBLE forms the body of the hot rod. [NOTE: If a large cast, build more than one “human hot rod.”] LIGHTS DIM, HEADLIGHTS ON. SOUND EFFECT: HOT ROD ENGINE REVVING UP. [NOTE: Flashing lights, a

roaming spotlight or a strobe light would be most effective during

35 this next section. The HUMAN HOT ROD is blasting off into the past a la “Back to the Future.” The wilder the effects, the better.] ALL sing, with building intensity.) Hear the roar of the engine gettin’ ready on the strip! Hear the roar of the engine, it’s soundin’ real hip!

1 1 Put the pedal to the metal, gonna take you on a trip To the cool and nifty nineteen ﬁ fties! (SOUND EFFECT: HOT ROD ENGINE ROARING and PEELING OUT.) Hot rod! Lookin’ mighty classy, 5 We got a rumble seat waitin’ for you. Hot rod, with a chrome-plated chassis, Power shift in second and we’ll see what she’ll do.

Gonna wind out the engine as we take you to the rendezvous!

(Chanted in rhythm.) Faster! Faster!

10 Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! Faster! (ALL cheer. SOUND EFFECT: SQUEALING BRAKES as the HUMAN HOT ROD comes to a sudden stop. ENSEMBLE reacts, leaning forward as one body. LIGHTS UP 15 FULL IMMEDIATELY. The HUMAN HOT ROD quickly breaks apart. We have arrived in the 1950s!)

ALL: (Sing.) Welcome to the nineteen fi fties! GIRLS: (Sing.) Howdy Doody, Mickey Mouse, Davy Crockett! ALL: (Sing.) Welcome to the nineteen fi fties! 20 Don’t be a square! Better be there! We double dare! Yes, welcome to the nineteen fi fties! BOYS: (Sing.) Buddy Holly, Hula Hoops, Elvis Presley! ALL: (Sing.) Welcome to the nineteen fi fties! Hey, Daddy-o, we gotta go! 25 Be there or be square! (Cheers, laughter and general excitement as the ENSEMBLE scatters OFF LEFT and RIGHT. SOUND EFFECT: HOT ROD RACING OFF, SQUEALING TIRES in the distance. MUSIC OUT.)

ACT ONE

Scene One

AT RISE: Jenkins Music Store, one afternoon. The 45ERS—HI-TONE, WAX, FLAIR, VICTOR and optional EXTRAS—are looking through a bin

30 of 45s.

HI-TONE: Own it. Own it. Own it. Dullsville. Nowhere. Square. (Suddenly excited.) New Buddy Holly, zorch! This slays me, daddy-o! It sends me. Hoo-boy. WAXX: Don’t you already own this one? 35 HI-TONE: That was on the chintzy Decca label. This is on the cool Prism label. WAXX: What’s the difference? HI-TONE: Decca label was blue. This one’s green.

2 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 WAXX: So? HI-TONE: So the labels are different colors, dingaling. (WAXX reaches for the record.) Hey, get your bread hooks off my disc! You could smudge the grooves. 5 WAXX: I meant, what’s the difference in the song?

HI-TONE: Zilch, baby.

WAXX: No difference? The song sounds exactly the same on both labels. HI-TONE: Yeah. 10 WAXX: But you’re going to pay for a song you already own? HI-TONE: What’s your point? WAXX: Wait, I have a point?

FLAIR: Okay, it’s a game, okay?

VICTOR: Another game? 15 FLAIR: Yeah, I give you a name, you give me the band. First one who can’t name the band loses. Okay? VICTOR: Fine. FLAIR: Little Anthony. VICTOR: Imperials. 20 FLAIR: Junior Walker.

VICTOR: All Stars.

FLAIR: Danny.

VICTOR: Wait, don’t I get a turn?

FLAIR: Okay, after this one, okay? Danny.

25 VICTOR: Juniors. My turn. Bill Haley. FLAIR: What? No fair. VICTOR: It’s fair. FLAIR: No, that’s too hard. VICTOR: Bill Haley is too hard? You lose. 30 FLAIR: I didn’t lose. You made that up. Bill Haley’s not even a real guy. VICTOR: (To WAXX and HI-TONE.) Hey, guys. Bill Haley and… WAXX/HI-TONE: The Comets. VICTOR: See? 35 FLAIR: Cheater. VICTOR: How is that cheating? FLAIR: I’m not playing with you any more.

3 1 JENKINS: (ENTERS from his ofﬁ ce, sees the kids and throws his hands up in disgust.) What are you kids still doing here? HI-TONE: Looking for music. JENKINS: What do you think this is? 5 VICTOR: A music store? (PEGGY SUE ENTERS from the storeroom.) JENKINS: Oh, now a smart mouth he’s got. (Notices PEGGY SUE.) Peggy Sue! PEGGY SUE: Mr. Jenkins! What are you doing up? You should be resting. 10 JENKINS: Who can rest when I have hooligans in my store? PEGGY SUE: They’re not really hooligans, sir. They’re wax freaks. JENKINS: Hangh? PEGGY SUE: Song surfers. Disc junkies. JENKINS: I don’t keep up on all this modern-day slang what’s-its.

15 PEGGY SUE: They just love music, sir.

JENKINS: That isn’t music. With the rock and the roll and the guitars

and the “ooh mow mow.” The Mills Brothers. That was music with

the melodies and the lyrics.

PEGGY SUE: Yes, sir. But they usually buy something.

20 JENKINS: Five hours they’ve been here and they buy one record. Outside they should be. With the sunshine and the fresh air. Someone needs to keep an eye on them—that’s what they need. PEGGY SUE: I’ll do that, sir. You need to go rest. JENKINS: But the ﬁ ling— 25 PEGGY SUE: I’ll take care of it. Did you take your pills?

JENKINS: Pills schmills. I don’t need pills. PEGGY SUE: Doctor says you need to watch your blood pressure. You should’ve taken your medication an hour ago. Go into your ofﬁ ce and put your feet up. 30 JENKINS: Oooh-hoo. So who’s the boss here? PEGGY SUE: (Points OFF toward the ofﬁ ce.) March. JENKINS: (Chucking PEGGY SUE under the chin.) A good girl is what you are. (EXITS while muttering.) Should’ve been a doctor like my mother nagged, with the nurses and the quiet.

35 PEGGY SUE: (To the 45ERS.) You guys need any help?

WAXX: Nah. Thanks, Peggy Sue, we’re good.

HI-TONE: Actually we’re headed to the malt shop. Right, guys? (OTHERS nod.) FLAIR: (On their way OUT.) Hey, Peggy Sue. Ever hear of Bill Haley?

4 1 PEGGY SUE: I love the Comets. VICTOR: See? FLAIR: She’s in on it. (45ERS EXIT as PREPPIES ENTER. They are poodle-skirted and cardigan-sweatered. Good squeaky-clean kids.)

5 PEYTON: Oh, my greatest gosh. This is the cutest place ever. In the history of cute places, this is number one.

PEGGY SUE: (Thrilled to see them.) Hi, you guys!

NIGEL: So this is your infamous establishment of employment, eh? PEGGY SUE: Yeah, this is where I work. 10 NIGEL: There is a certain quaint and capitalistic feel about the place, isn’t there. PEGGY SUE: Well, we like it. BIFFY: Oh, cute shoes. How much? PEGGY SUE: Excuse me? 15 BIFFY: For the shoes. How much do you want? PEGGY SUE: My shoes aren’t for sale, Biffy. BIFFY: Oh, drag. Tell me where you got ’em. I won’t be complete until I have a pair just like ’em. NIGEL: Her paternal unit’s away on a business expedition, so she’s on 20 a spending spree again. PEGGY SUE: What are you all doing here? PEYTON: Well, good gravy, we have some news. NIGEL: Bear in mind it is not conﬁ rmed and shouldn’t be considered legally binding. 25 PEYTON: Oh, gobbledy-gracious, just tell her! BIFFY: We got you into our sorority. PEGGY SUE: Really? AHHHHHH! (Hugs the group, excited.) PEYTON: I know. Righto! NIGEL: With my fraternity aligned with your sorority, we’ll all be in the 30 same circle when we start college next year.

PEYTON: I just know we’re going to be the best of friends. Of all

friends that ever existed, we’ll be the best. (MUSIC CUE 2: “Alpha

Delta Pi.”)

BIFFY: (Speaks.) You’ll meet all the best people. Attend the greatest 35 events. My grandmother was an Alpha Delta Pi.

PEGGY SUE: (Dreamy; speaks.) An Alpha Delta Pi? Me? Am I dreaming? (Sings.) How could it be? (Speaks.) I mean, (Sings.) Just take a look at me. I’m nothing special, yet, what an opportunity.

5 1 It’s been my dream to be a college girl. I’m so excited I could cry! NIGEL/PEYTON/BIFFY (PREPPIES): (Sing.) Soon you’ll be an Alpha Delta Pi! 5 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I can’t believe. PREPPIES: (Sing. To each other.) She can’t believe. PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) They’d choose a girl like me. PREPPIES: (Sing. To PEGGY SUE.) Oh, please! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) What should I say? 10 PREPPIES: (Sing.) Just be yourself.

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I could fail mis’rably.

PREPPIES: (Sing. Trying to cheer her up.) Rah, rah! PEGGY SUE: (Sings. Assertive.) I must apply! PREPPIES: (Sing.) Rah, rah! 15 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Make them see I’m somebody. PREPPIES: (Sing.) Sis boom bah! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Give it that good old college try. PREPPIES: (Sing.) Sis boom bah! Sis boom bah!

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I could be…

20 ALL: (Sing.) …an Alpha Delta Pi! PEYTON: (Sings.) Don’t be afraid, we know you’ll do just ﬁ ne.

BIFFY: (Sings.) Peggy Sue, yes, we believe in you.

NIGEL: (Sings.) Walk through that door with your head held high.

PREPPIES: (Sing.) Walk out an Alpha Delta Pi!

25 NIGEL: (Speaks.) You can do it, Peggy Sue! PEYTON/BIFFY: (Speak.) We know you can! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I’ll do my best. PREPPIES: (Sing.) That’s all we ask. PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I’ll give it all I’ve got!

30 PREPPIES: (Sing.) Just do your best. PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) No turning back. PREPPIES: (Sing.) No turning back. PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I know I’ll pass the test.

PREPPIES: (Sing.) Rah, rah! 35 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Won’t be afraid! PREPPIES: (Sing.) Rah, rah! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I’ll never bat an eye!

6 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 PREPPIES: (Sing.) Sis boom bah! We know you’re gonna qualify. PEGGY SUE: (Gets into the moment. Sings.) Sis boom bah! Sis boom bah! I’m gonna be… 5 PREPPIES: (Sing.) You’re gonna be… ALL: (Sing.) …an Alpha Delta Pi! PEGGY SUE: (Sings. Confi dent.) I’m gonna be… PREPPIES: (Sing.) You’re gonna be… ALL: (Sing.) …an Alpha Delta Pi! 10 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Here comes an… ALL: (Sing.) Alpha Delta Pi! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Who am I? ALL: (Sing.) An Alpha Delta Pi! (MUSIC OUT.) NIGEL: Your scholarship and grades helped. And my father’s law fi rm 15 was able to pull some strings. BIFFY: And we had to personally vouch for you. NIGEL: The fi nal step to closure is your meeting with the house mother. PEYTON: Day after tomorrow. She’s a tough cookie to impress. 20 BIFFY: But you’ll be fi ne. PEGGY SUE: Oh, you guys, I know you stuck your neck out for me. I won’t let you down, I promise. BIFFY: Never doubted it. We’ll meet you in front of the malt shop later. Ooh, hey! I’m buying malts. (Points to the PREPPIES.) Malt for you, 25 malt for you, malt for you. (Points to herself.) And one right here. (The GEARHEADS—JACK, TURBO, BOOSTER, VELOCITY and optional EXTRAS—ENTER the store. They wear grease stained coveralls.)

NIGEL: Now who are these rufﬁ ans?

BOOSTER: (Yells, like he always does.) SEE, JACK! SHE WORKS HERE 30 NOW!

JACK: Yeah, Booster, shhhhh.

BOOSTER: DIDN’T I TELL YOU?

JACK: Yeah, you told me. BOOSTER: WHAT? 35 JACK: YOU TOLD ME! BOOSTER: DIDN’T I? VELOCITY: (Covers her ears from BOOSTER’S volume.) Man, Booster, put a mufﬂ er on it. BIFFY: Peggy Sue, are these… friends of yours?

7 1 PEGGY SUE: (Lying.) Um… no. Friends? Could you excuse me? (Crosses to the GEARHEADS and says loudly.) Can I help you? (Once she’s out of earshot of the PREPPIES, she lowers her voice and says through gritted teeth.) What are you guys doing here? 5 TURBO: (Talking at 90 mph.) Hey- Peggy Sue- Booster- said- he- saw- you- working- here- but- we- didn’t- believe- him- so- we- hadda- come- see- for- ourselves- and- it- turns- out- he- was- right- you- really- do- work- here- huh- that’s-weird-where-ya-been-we-sure- miss-ya-at-the-garage. 10 PEGGY SUE: Hey, Turbo. Velocity. VELOCITY: Peggy Sue. You look in mint condish. PEGGY SUE: Booster. BOOSTER: HEY, PEGGY SUE. SO YOU WORK HERE, HUH?

VELOCITY: You gotta get your head out from under the hood, Booster.

15 All that engine noise is hurting your ears.

BOOSTER: FLIRTING WITH GEARS. YUP, THAT’S ME. PEGGY SUE: (To JACK.) What are you doing here? JACK: Just wanted to see your new life. And your new “friends.” VELOCITY: (Indicates PREPPIES.) So these are the guys you junked 20 us for? PEGGY SUE: I didn’t junk you. VELOCITY: Got a funny way of showing it. Come on, Jack. JACK: No, I want to meet the new friends. PEGGY SUE: Jack, please don’t. 25 JACK: Don’t what? You afraid your new buddies won’t accept you if they knew you were once a lowly grease monkey? PEGGY SUE: You don’t understand. JACK: Explain it to me. PEGGY SUE: I can’t. 30 JACK: What happened to you? PEGGY SUE: (Sees NIGEL approach.) Please, just leave. VELOCITY: Come on, Jack. NIGEL: Peggy Sue. Are you acquainted with this person? (PEGGY SUE looks to JACK, pleading with her eyes. Tense beat. Then…) 35 JACK: Naw. I don’t know this girl at all. NIGEL: Then I think she asked you to leave. Come on, Peggy Sue. You don’t want to tarnish your reputation by associating with this scoundrel. VELOCITY: Have no idea what you just said. JACK: Don’t start with me, Nigel. 8 1 PEGGY SUE: (Stunned.) You know each other?! NIGEL: I paid this rascal to ﬁ x my Chevy last summer. JACK: I told you it needed a new transmission. NIGEL: You said you could ﬁ x it. 5 JACK: I said I could try. No promises.

NIGEL: You obtained my money but left me nothing in reciprocity.

VELOCITY: Have no idea what you just said.

NIGEL: The legal deﬁ nition for you is “thief.” (JACK takes a step forward, but VELOCITY holds him back.) 10 VELOCITY: He ain’t worth it, Jack. Let’s just burn rubber. BOOSTER: (Gets right up to BIFFY and offers a hand.) HI, I’M BOOSTER! BIFFY: (Recoils, trying to be polite.) Okay, very greasy. BOOSTER: I’M NOT GREEK! I WAS BORN IN OMAHA!

15 BIFFY: (To BOOSTER.) I’ll give you $47.38 if you go away.

TURBO: Don’t mind him, he’s harmless.

BOOSTER: I’M WHAT?! TURBO: Harmless. BOOSTER: (Looks at both his arms.) NO, I’M OKAY. 20 TURBO: (Shakes PEYTON’S hand.) Hi- how- ya- doin’- I’m- Turbo- I- see- you- around- school- sometimes- but- you’re- always- on- the- other- side- of- campus- usually- out- in- the- sunlight- I- spend- most- of- my- time- in- auto- shop- you- ever- take- auto- shop? PEYTON: Never not once ever. Get everybody that’s ever taken auto 25 shop since the beginning of time and I wouldn’t be in that group. TURBO: Oh- you- should- I- think- you’d- like- it- smart- girl- like- you- could- probably- strip- clean- an- engine- in- about- 20- minutes. PEYTON: (Backs away.) Jolly golly, I don’t think I’ll ever try. Excuse me. Peggy Sue, we’ll see you at the malt shop later, right?

30 PEGGY SUE: You bet. See ya. (PREPPIES EXIT, NIGEL and JACK glaring

at each other.)

JACK: (To the GEARHEADS.) Come on, guys. Peggy Sue is done with

us.

PEGGY SUE: (Before they vanish.) This isn’t how I wanted things to 35 be, Jack. JACK: Oh, yeah? What do you want? (GEARHEADS EXIT leaving PEGGY SUE ONSTAGE alone. BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene One

9 ACT ONE Scene Two 1 LIGHTS UP: The malt shop, the same day. DAYTONA BOB sits at a table reading Shakespeare. EXTRA KIDS can ﬁ ll out other tables and stools, if desired. GREASERS ENTER. These guys are so greasy we’re just gonna call ’em CASTROL, QUAKER and PENZ. 5 DAYTONA: Hello, gents.

CASTROL: Hi, boss. QUAKER: Hi, boss

PENZ: Eh, what’s up, doc? QUAKER: Who’s that supposed to be? 10 PENZ: Who do you think? QUAKER: James Dean? PENZ: It’s Bugs Bunny. QUAKER: Sounded like James Dean. PENZ: Bugs Bunny. 15 DAYTONA: Tell me the good news. CASTROL: Everybody paid up. (Throws down a wad of cash, which DAYTONA counts.) DAYTONA: Any trouble? QUAKER: No.

20 CASTROL: A few didn’t want to pay. (Punches his hand to show how

scary he is.)

DAYTONA: Then they shouldn’t place bets with me. As Dean Inge says,

gambling is a disease of barbarians superﬁ cially supervised.

CASTROL: You sure read a lot of books, boss. (BETTY LOU, PORTIA 25 and EDSEL ENTER. PORTIA narrates the action as if she were a Nascar announcer. EDSEL pretty much just makes sound effects.) PORTIA: Ladies and gentlemen, Betty Lou has just entered the malt shop. (BETTY LOU makes a quick tour of the place as the OTHER KIDS applaud her like she won a championship of some sort.) 30 EDSEL: Vroom-vroom. PORTIA: She does a victory lap. Listen to that crowd! EDSEL: (Makes crowd noises.) Yeah, whoo-hoo, hooray! PORTIA: Betty Lou has her eyes on the checkered ﬂ ag and races to the ﬁ nish line. 35 EDSEL: (Screeching brake noises.) Scrrrreeeech-urrgh. (BETTY LOU ends up at DAYTONA’S table. This is one cocky little girl.) BETTY LOU: Daytona.

10 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 DAYTONA: Hello, Betty Lou. Heard you drove quite a race last night. PORTIA: It wasn’t just any old race. You should’ve seen her. DAYTONA: And to the victor go the boils. You got something for me? BETTY LOU: (Hands over a pink slip.) Pink slip, just like you asked. 5 PORTIA: And Betty Lou hands over the ofﬁ cial form establishing a person as the legal owner of a vehicle. This is the pink slip she won off the loser in last night’s drag race. EDSEL: Whangh-whangh-wha. DAYTONA: I’m now the proud owner of— 10 BETTY LOU: A 1951 cherry Chrysler Saratoga with a 180 horsepower engine. DAYTONA: (Gives the pink slip to CASTROL.) Sell it or junk it, I don’t care. Just bring me the cash. You did good, little girl. (Offers her a wad of cash.) 15 PENZ: (Impersonating Vic Morrow.) Here it is. All you got to do is take it.

QUAKER: Oh, I know! James Dean.

PENZ: Vic Morrow. The Blackboard Jungle.

QUAKER: Sounded like James Dean. 20 BETTY LOU: (Takes the cash.) Thanks, Daytona. DAYTONA: Listen, I got another race coming up tonight. BETTY LOU: (Getting excited.) Yeah? DAYTONA: It’s a big one. I need you. (Holds up more cash.) BETTY LOU: Oh, I’d love to drive for you again, Daytona. 25 DAYTONA: Whoa, whoa, whoa, little girl. Slow down. This race isn’t like last night’s. It’s not racing against some high school punk. No, this race is too much for you. I need you… to get your sister to drive. BETTY LOU: (Cheesed off.) Peggy Sue? 30 DAYTONA: Yeah. BETTY LOU: You don’t need her. I got ﬁ ve victories and the best open street time in three counties.

DAYTONA: A great man is always willing to be little. Ralph William Emerson said that. You’re good, kid. But your sister is the best 35 drag racer I’ve ever seen. BETTY LOU: She don’t race no more. She’s got a “real” job. DAYTONA: That’s too bad. I’ve got no use for you, kid. (Puts the cash back into a pocket.) I’ve got a lot of money riding on this. BETTY LOU: I won’t lose.

11 1 DAYTONA: (Thinks it over.) Okay. But if you DO lose, you’ll owe me everything I could’ve made betting on this race. BETTY LOU: No problem. You’ll see. DAYTONA: Yeah, I guess I will. (SHERIFF STONE and DEPUTY DILLION 5 quietly ENTER unnoticed.) PORTIA: And Betty Lou peels away from the pit to buy her friends a milkshake. EDSEL: Gulp-gulp-gulp. (Heads over to the counter with PORTIA and BETTY LOU. DAYTONA stands up, only to ﬁ nd himself pushed back 10 into his seat by SHERIFF and DEPUTY.) SHERIFF: Hello, Daytona. DAYTONA: Well, if it isn’t Sheriff Stone. And his faithful Deputy Dillon. DEPUTY: Did you know that in the Old West, deputy badges were often 15 made of tin while sheriff badges were made of silver? SHERIFF: He doesn’t need to know that, Dillon. DEPUTY: Right. Just saying. SHERIFF: Like your new “ofﬁ ce,” Daytona.

DAYTONA: Ofﬁ ce? I’m not doing business here, Sheriff. I just come for

20 the malts and the music. Like everybody else.

SHERIFF: You need your goons for that?

DEPUTY: Did you know that the word “goon” was coined by the creator of the Popeye comics? He combined the word gorilla with baboon.

25 SHERIFF: Not relevant, Dillon.

DEPUTY: Right. Sorry.

SHERIFF: There’s been a series of drag races lately.

DAYTONA: This town is big on races.

SHERIFF: It used to be done at the track where it was safe, supervised.

30 And legal. Now somebody is organizing street races. Wild and dangerous street races. DAYTONA: That’s terrible. Who would do something like that? SHERIFF: Somebody who can make a lot of money betting on illegal racing. 35 DAYTONA: You got any suspects? SHERIFF: Just one. (Leans in close to DAYTONA.)

DAYTONA: (Leans in even closer.) Prove it. (Tense beat.)

SHERIFF: I will. Sooner or later, somebody is going to pay for racing in my streets.

12 1 DAYTONA: Good luck. Mean time, buy yourself a soda pop. (Tosses a coin to the SHERIFF and EXITS with GREASERS.) SHERIFF: (Calls after DAYTONA.) We’ll meet again. (Leaves the coin on the table and heads towards the door with DEPUTY DILLON on his 5 heels.) DEPUTY: Did you know the carbonation in soda pop comes from carbon dioxide? SHERIFF: Do I need to know this, Dillon? DEPUTY: No. Sorry. (They EXIT, nearly bumping into PEGGY SUE and 10 the PREPPIES, who ENTER and cross to the other side of SHERIFF.) SHERIFF: Excuse me, Peggy Sue. PEGGY SUE: Sheriff. (The SHERIFF gives PEGGY SUE a long hard glare, looking from her to the vanished DAYTONA. He EXITS with his DEPUTY.) 15 PORTIA: (Nudges BETTY LOU.) And in a stunning development, Betty Lou’s sister has just entered the track.

BETTY LOU: Oh, great. Miss Goody is here. Did she bring her two shoes? EDSEL: Rrrreeeow. 20 NIGEL: I’ll procure us a table for our studies. (Finds a table with PEYTON while PEGGY SUE crosses to her sister.) PEGGY SUE: What are you doing here? Did you ﬁ nish your homework? BETTY LOU: Oh, please. 25 PORTIA: (Watches as BETTY LOU turns away from her sister.) It looks like the hot, young up-and-comer is rejecting advice from the washed-up has-been. PEGGY SUE: Betty Lou—

EDSEL: (Makes loud engine noises to drown out PEGGY SUE.)

30 Vrrroooom.

PEGGY SUE: Listen—

EDSEL: Vroom-vrooooooom. PEGGY SUE: (Grabs BETTY LOU.) Look, Dad’s got another week of furlough. As long as Mom is in Korea with him, I’m responsible 35 for you.

BIFFY: Hey, Peggy Sue, what kind of malt do you want? PEGGY SUE: Oh, I don’t need one. BIFFY: Come on, my treat. PEGGY SUE: Chocolate, I guess. (BIFFY goes to the counter to order.)

BETTY LOU: You let her pay your way?

13 1 PEGGY SUE: I’m saving for college. And she’s a friend, it’s what friends do. BETTY LOU: Well, then I got a lot of friends. (Loudly to the whole place.) Milkshakes are on me, everybody. (Waves a wad of cash 5 and KIDS rush the counter.) PEGGY SUE: Where did you get that? BETTY LOU: Earned it. PEGGY SUE: How? BETTY LOU: How do you think? 10 EDSEL: Vrooom-scrrreeech… (Makes “shift” sound effect.) … roooooar. PORTIA: And they’re off, Betty Lou once again proving that she is ten times better than her sister. PEGGY SUE: You’re racing? Are you crazy?! 15 BETTY LOU: Oh, please, you used to race all the time. PEGGY SUE: At the track where it was relatively safe. Street racing is dangerous! It’s illegal. BETTY LOU: (Fanning the cash.) It’s proﬁ table. (MUSIC CUE 3: “You’re Missin’ Out.”)

20 PEGGY SUE: (Speaks.) You’re going to get in with the wrong kind of

people.

BETTY LOU: (Speaks.) I’ve got friends to cover my back. They won’t abandon me like you did to your friends.

PEGGY SUE: (Speaks.) You just don’t get it, do ya?

25 (Sings.) Better listen, little sister, better listen good, ’Cause you’re headin’ down a one-way street. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing, roll eyes.) Write me a letter!

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Don’t get blinded by the money or a two-bit hood. 30 There are other ways you could compete. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing, sarcastic.) What’s on the ﬂ ipside?

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I just can’t believe you’d risk it for a little cash. In the end it isn’t worth the gain. 35 BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing, ignoring her.) Is she still here? PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) And you’re headin’ down a highway that could end in a crash. Yes, it’s dang’rous and it’s so insane. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing, to each other.) She’s such a pain.

14 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) You’re my one little sister. BETTY LOU: (Speaks in rhythm.) So what? PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) And I care for you so. BETTY LOU: (Speaks in rhythm.) Yeah, right.

5 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Hear me now, little sister. I forbid you to go! BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Speak in rhythm. Outraged.) WHAT! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) There are roads you could travel. BETTY LOU: (Speaks in rhythm. Pouting.) Get lost.

10 PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) There are better things you could do. BETTY LOU: (Speaks in rhythm.) Like what?

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) There’s a whole wide world at your ﬁ ngertips.

So many things to learn about. Betty Lou, you’re missin’ out!

15 BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Speak in rhythm.) Says who?

BETTY LOU: (Sings.) Let me tell you something, sister, I don’t need your advice. I don’t want you meddlin’ in my affairs. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing, to PEGGY SUE.) So take a hike!

20 BETTY LOU: (Sings.) Could it be that you’re just jealous, That’s why you’re making nice? You’re a has-been and nobody cares! PORTIA/EDSEL: (Speak in rhythm. Shocked that BETTY LOU would be that mean.) Like, ouch!

25 BETTY LOU: (Sings.) You could be making some easy money.

PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Sha la la la!

BETTY LOU: (Sings.) You were the queen of the strip.

PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Sha la la la la la la!

BETTY LOU: (Sings.) You chose to give up your friends. Well, honey,

30 A college girl just ain’t that hip! BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) They ain’t that hip!

BETTY LOU: (Sings.) Just let me live my own life, why don’t-cha?

PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Sha la la la!

BETTY LOU: (Sings.) I ain’t a kid anymore. 35 PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) She ain’t a kid anymore! BETTY LOU: (Sings.) Just let me be who I am, why won’t-cha? You can lecture, you can scream ’n’ shout. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Scream ’n’ shout! BETTY LOU: (Sings.) But Peggy Sue, you’re missin’ out!

15 1 BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) You’re missin’ out! (PEGGY SUE and BETTY LOU mime a heated argument during the following.) PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing, aside to each other.) I don’t know why they always argue. 5 I really hate it when they argue. I don’t know why they always argue. It drives me crazy when they argue.

(Repeat softly under during following dialogue.) PEGGY SUE: (Speaks.) Why won’t you listen to reason?

10 BETTY LOU: (Speaks.) Why won’t you listen to reason?

PEGGY SUE: (Speaks.) Promise me you won’t race anymore. Betty

Lou, promise me.

BETTY LOU: (Deﬁ ant; speaks.) I’ll think about it! (MUSIC slows down.) PEGGY SUE: (Sings, softening, to BETTY LOU.)

15 Hey there, sister, don’t you worry, there’ll be races to run. There’ll be fi nish lines and trophies to win. And when you see that checkered fl ag in the afternoon sun, (Back to original tempo.) You’ll know your race is just about to begin. 20 BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing. Roll their eyes; twirl a fi nger in the air—“Big whoop!”) Sha la la la. (The following THREE STANZAS are

sung as a TRIO.)

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) You’re my one little sister. And I care for you so. 25 Hear me now, little sister. I forbid you to go! BETTY LOU: (Sings. Trying one last time to convince PEGGY SUE.) You could be making some easy money. You were the queen of the strip. You chose to give up your friends. Well, honey, 30 A college girl just ain’t that hip! They ain’t that hip!

PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Sha la la la! Sha la la la la la la! They ain’t that hip! (The following THREE STANZAS are sung as a 35 TRIO.) PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) There are roads you could travel. There are better things you could do. There’s a whole wide world at your ﬁ ngertips. BETTY LOU: (Sings.) Just let me live my own life, why don’t-cha? 40 I ain’t a kid anymore. Just let me be who I am, why won’t-cha?

16 1 PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Sha la la la! She ain’t a kid anymore! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) So many things to learn about. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing. Bored.) We want out! 5 BETTY LOU: (Sings.) You can lecture, you can scream and shout. BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) Scream and shout! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Betty Lou…

BETTY LOU: (Sings.) Peggy Sue…

ALL: (Sing.) You’re missin’ out! (MUSIC OUT.) 10 PEGGY SUE: (Threatening.) Betty Lou! BETTY LOU: (Frustrated.) All right, all right, I promise! Geez. PEGGY SUE: Good girl. Now go home and do your homework. PORTIA: (Starts to EXIT with BETTY LOU and EDSEL.) And the girls are on their way out the door to tell Daytona Bob that Betty Lou won’t 15 be able to race tonight. BETTY LOU: Who says I’m not racing? PORTIA: (Drops the announcer bit.) But you promised. BETTY LOU: (Holds up crossed ﬁ ngers.) Had my ﬁ ngers crossed. EDSEL: Dum-dum-dummmmmmmmm. (They EXIT. BLACKOUT.) End of Scene Two

ACT ONE Scene Three 20 LIGHTS UP: Jenkins Music Store, the next day. The 45ERS are there, dropping records onto the spindle. They play a few snippets of a song, then change the record, one after another. (Or they can just be looking

at records.) FLAIR is talking to JENKINS. JENKINS: What kind of name is Bill Haley and the Comets?

25 FLAIR: A made up one.

JENKINS: Are they a band? Are they men? Are they bits of cosmic icy

rock is what I’m asking. The Glen Miller Orchestra is a name. He’s Glen Miller, and he has an orchestra. PEGGY SUE: (ENTERS from the storeroom.) Okay, Mr. Jenkins, I got the 30 storeroom all cleaned and alphabetized. Are you all right? JENKINS: I’m fi ne. PEGGY SUE: Did you do your exercises today? JENKINS: With the walking and the huffi ng and puffi ng. PEGGY SUE: Doctor says you need to exercise. What will happen to 35 this place if something happens to you? JENKINS: Maybe a smart, pretty girl will take it over. 17 1 PEGGY SUE: Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. But right now, I have to go. I have a very important interview today. JENKINS: So go. (To the 45ERS.) In my offi ce is where I’ll be, looking through the window. (EXITS to the offi ce.) 5 SHERIFF: (ENTERS the store with DEPUTY.) Hello, Peggy Sue. PEGGY SUE: Sheriff Stone. You come to buy some music? DEPUTY: The term rock and roll is often credited to the Dominos and their song “Sixty Minute Man.” SHERIFF: Which isn’t important. 10 DEPUTY: Not at all. Sorry. SHERIFF: Peggy Sue, I know that people are racing in the streets. And I think you’ve got something to do with that. PEGGY SUE: (Truly concerned.) Me? Why? SHERIFF: You’re the best that ever was. I’m watching you, Peggy Sue. 15 A zebra can’t change its stripes. DEPUTY: Actually zebras are born brown and don’t develop stripes until they get much older. So technically they do change. SHERIFF: I need to have a word with you. (Angrily yanks DEPUTY OUT. The moment he’s gone, BETTY LOU frantically charges IN from

20 another store entrance and pulls PEGGY SUE to the side away from the 45ERS.)

BETTY LOU: Is he gone?

PEGGY SUE: Who? And where have you been?

BETTY LOU: The sheriff.

25 PEGGY SUE: What? Yeah, I guess. Why?

BETTY LOU: Is there a place in the back? PEGGY SUE: What’s going on, Betty Lou? Why didn’t you come home last night? BETTY LOU: Home? That’s the ﬁ rst place they’d look for me. 30 PEGGY SUE: Look for you? Who? The sheriff? BETTY LOU: Yeah, the sheriff and… PEGGY SUE: And who? BETTY LOU: You gotta hide me. PEGGY SUE: Who’s looking for you? 35 BETTY LOU: Please. PEGGY SUE: Who is after you? BETTY LOU: (Reluctantly.) Daytona Bob. PEGGY SUE: Daytona?! Betty Lou, you were racing last night! BETTY LOU: I had him. I came off the line like a cannon.

18 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 PEGGY SUE: You promised me you wouldn’t race. BETTY LOU: I know! You want to tell me how stupid I am, go ahead if it’ll make you feel better. I’ll just pretend like I don’t already know. 5 PEGGY SUE: What happened? BETTY LOU: I don’t know. He pulled ahead in the last two seconds and swept the checkered. PEGGY SUE: You lost. BETTY LOU: Yeah. 10 PEGGY SUE: It’s not the end of the world, okay? I’ve lost plenty of races— BETTY LOU: You don’t get it. Daytona said if I didn’t win, I had to cover his losses.

PEGGY SUE: You made a collateral deal with him? What were you 15 thinking?!

BETTY LOU: I… uh…

PEGGY SUE: Why didn’t you tell him to ﬁ nd another driver?

BETTY LOU: (Deﬁ antly.) He didn’t want anybody else.

PEGGY SUE: How much are you into him?

20 BETTY LOU: Five thousand.

PEGGY SUE: Five thousand dollars?!

BETTY LOU: If I don’t get him the money by midnight tonight he’s

gonna… (We’ll let the threat remain ambiguous and scary.)

PEGGY SUE: (Pacing and thinking.) Okay, all right. Give me a second.

25 BETTY LOU: What am I gonna do? PEGGY SUE: Working on it. BETTY LOU: His goons are already out looking. You gotta hide me. PEGGY SUE: Hide now, you’ll be hiding forever. We face this. Straight on. Come on. (They EXIT. BLACKOUT.) End of Scene Three

ACT ONE Scene Four 30 LIGHTS UP: The malt shop, immediately following. A few KIDS are scattered about. DAYTONA sits at his table surrounded by the

GREASERS. PEGGY SUE ENTERS, holding BETTY LOU’S hand.

CASTROL: There she is. (The GREASERS sweep in on BETTY LOU, who cringes.) 35 PEGGY SUE: Back off. She’s with me. (The GREASERS hesitate, looking to DAYTONA, who thinks.) We came to talk. (DAYTONA ponders a

19 1 moment longer then waves them on. She and BETTY LOU approach the table; the GREASERS surround them.) DAYTONA: So, Peggy Sue, you brought your sister, just like David into the lion’s den. 5 PEGGY SUE: It’s Daniel, genius. (PENZ draws an angry ﬁ st, but DAYTONA gestures for him to calm down.) I’m late, so let’s get this over with. DAYTONA: I assume this means you have my money. BETTY LOU: Well, I um… ah… 10 PEGGY SUE: No, we don’t have the money. DAYTONA: I am a gentleman, but you have upset me. PENZ: (Impersonating James Dean.) You’re tearing me apart. QUAKER: Oh, I know. Humphrey Bogart. PENZ: James Dean. Rebel Without a Cause. 15 QUAKER: Sounded like Bogart. PEGGY SUE: It’s a bum deal, Daytona. You pressured my sister, a minor, into racing for you. That shows bad faith on your part. It nulliﬁ es the deal.

DAYTONA: Pressured her? Is that what she told you? She begged me

20 to race. (PEGGY SUE looks at BETTY LOU.) She didn’t tell you? What would I want with her, little second-hand rose? I wanted you.

PEGGY SUE: Me? I’d never race for you.

DAYTONA: Shakespeare said “Never say never.” PEGGY SUE: Shakespeare never said that. 25 DAYTONA: Little Sis wanted to prove that she was so much better than you.

PEGGY SUE: This deal will never hold up in court. DAYTONA: I’m not talkin’ about court. PENZ: (Trying to impersonate James Cagney.) Yeah, you dirty rat, we’re 30 not talkin’ about court! QUAKER: (Excited.) Don’t tell me! Ricky Ricardo, right? (PENZ rolls his eyes.) DAYTONA: (To PENZ. Annoyed.) Hey, nosebleed… cool it! PENZ: Sorry, boss. 35 QUAKER: Yeah, sorry, boss. (MUSIC CUE 4: “This Is My Turf.” GREASERS snap their ﬁ ngers on beats two and four.) DAYTONA: (Speaks.) I’m talkin’ about right here and now. I’m talkin’ about MY court. When you’re on MY turf, it’s my way… or the highway! (PEGGY SUE rolls her eyes.) (Sings.) I live a-my life a-by the laws of the street.

20 1 Break ’em and you’ll ﬁ nd you’re gonna take some heat. No one better double cross or get in my way. Try to beat the system and you’re gonna pay. This is… 5 DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …my turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) A backstreet jungle. DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) My turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Where the cats all rumble. DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) My turf! 10 GREASERS: (Sing.) We’re feelin’ rough and tumble. (Sung under DAYTONA’S vocal.) Doo-wop bop bop bop bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) If you’re beggin’ for trouble, I’m a-ready to play.

GREASERS: (Sing under DAYTONA’S vocal.)

Doo-wop bop bop bop bop!

15 DAYTONA: (Sings.) Just look for the shadow in the alleyway.

DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.)

Sock ’em to the left! Sock ’em to the right! I’m a bad boy bruiser just a-itchin’ to ﬁ ght! (GREASERS continue ﬁ nger snaps on beats two and four.) 20 DAYTONA: (Sings.) I wouldn’t recommend a-that you cross a-my path. No tellin’ what could happen in the aftermath. Breakin’ off a deal is like a throw of the dice. It’s hard for me to wanna keep a-makin’ nice.

25 This is…

DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …my turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) I’m wheelin’ and a-dealin’! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) My turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) I’m hustlin’ and a-stealin’! 30 DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) My turf! GREASERS: (Sing, slicking back their hair.) We’re handsome and appealin’.

(Sing under DAYTONA’S vocal.) Doo-wop bop bop bop bop!

DAYTONA: (Sings.) The boys never hesitate to bust a head.

35 GREASERS: (Sing under DAYTONA’S vocal.) Doo-wop bop bop bop bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Dig it, now, sister, this a-ain’t Club Med. DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) Kick ’em when they’re up! Kick ’em when they’re down! 40 Make ’em wish they’d never been a-born in this town! (DAYTONA and GREASERS go into an outrageously macho dance, ﬂ exing their 21 1 muscles, combing and slicking back their hair. Of course the dance wouldn’t be complete without some “Elvis” moves. The funnier the better. GREASERS continue ﬁ nger snaps.) DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) 5 It’s a no man’s land a-where the tough guys rule. The chicks are hot a-and the cats are cool!

We own this town a-and we’re settin’ the pace. GREASERS: (Sing.) Daytona Bob will never, ever lose a race.

DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) This is my turf! A hot-rod haven. 10 My turf! We’re misbehavin’. My turf! We’re rantin’ and a-ravin’.

GREASERS: (Sung under DAYTONA’S vocal.) Doo-wop bop bop bop bop!

DAYTONA: (Sings.) There ain’t no mufﬂ ers and the engines roar… 15 GREASERS: (Sung under DAYTONA’S vocal.) Doo-wop bop bop bop bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) …like a four-barrel beast with a-four on the ﬂ oor! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) Rev it up loud! Make ’em all afraid! (Thumbs pointing at themselves.) 20 These big, bad boys have got it made in the shade! (Clap hands on beats two and four.) My turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Mmmm…

DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sings.) This is my turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) GREASERS: (Sing.) 25 Everybody knows it’s… This is… DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) My turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Awww… DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) This is my turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) GREASERS: (Sing.) 30 Sing like Elvis… This is… DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …my turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) GREASERS: (Sing.) A-wiggle your pelvis… This is… DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …my turf! 35 DAYTONA: (Sings.) GREASERS: (Sing.) Everybody shout now… This is… DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …my turf! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Ba-ba-ba-ba-baby, baby… DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …this is my turf! DAYTONA: (Sing.) Everybody knows-a it’s-a…

PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 22 1 DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) …my turf! (Speak in rhythm.) Dig it! (MUSIC OUT.) DAYTONA: Time to pay the plumber. PEGGY SUE: It’s piper. There is no Pied Plumber. 5 DAYTONA: Just give me my money. Or else. PEGGY SUE: We’ll take else. We’re not afraid of you, Daytona. DAYTONA: Me? I wouldn’t lift a fi nger to harm you lovely young ladies. PEGGY SUE: Glad to hear it. (Starts to EXIT.) 10 DAYTONA: That’s what the law is for. (PEGGY SUE FREEZES in her tracks.) See, Sheriff Stone is all gassed up to lock somebody away for these races. And I have lots of witnesses saying little Betty Lou here was driving. One phone call and your sister goes to juvie. Sheriff gets his culprit, and I go on with my life. 15 PEGGY SUE: (Backed into a corner.) Okay. Okay. I have a job now. I can pay you a little every month. BETTY LOU: Peggy Sue, that’s your college money— PEGGY SUE: It’ll take a while, but you’ll get every dime. DAYTONA: I’m not a bank. I don’t take payments. 20 PEGGY SUE: Then what will it take? DAYTONA: Three days from now I’ve got my biggest race ever. You drive for me. PEGGY SUE: No, I don’t do that anymore. DAYTONA: You win that race, and I can clean up. I’ll make more than 25 enough to cover the fi ve grand. All debts will be erased. PEGGY SUE: If I win. BETTY LOU: Peggy Sue, no! DAYTONA: If you win. PEGGY SUE: And if I lose? 30 DAYTONA: You race for me for a year. PEGGY SUE: A year? I can’t. I’m going to college. I’ll lose my scholarship if I put it off for a year. DAYTONA: Tough choices. PEGGY SUE: You’re asking me to give up my future. 35 DAYTONA: Nothing wrong with your past. PEGGY SUE: I can’t… DAYTONA: Then give me fi ve grand or your sister goes to jail. BETTY LOU: Peggy Sue— PEGGY SUE: Okay. BETTY LOU: No! 23 1 DAYTONA: Deal? PEGGY SUE: Deal. (They shake hands.) DAYTONA: Welcome back. What are you driving? PEGGY SUE: My Chevy Skyliner. 5 DAYTONA: I’ll make arrangements. Three days. PEGGY SUE: I’ll be there. Come on, Betty Lou. BETTY LOU: But— PEGGY SUE: Come on. (Leads BETTY LOU OFF. CURTAIN.) End of Scene Four

ACT ONE Scene Five LIGHTS UP: On the street (played in front of the curtain), immediately 10 following. PEGGY SUE ENTERS, still dragging BETTY LOU by the wrist. BETTY LOU: Peggy Sue. Wait. Wait. Wait! (Pulls free, forcing PEGGY SUE to stop.) You don’t have to do this. PEGGY SUE: Yes, I do. BETTY LOU: Oh, so big sister has to come sweeping in like Wonder 15 Woman or something. She just can’t help saving the day for her stupid little sister.

PEGGY SUE: I never said you were stupid.

BETTY LOU: You didn’t have to! (Gets quiet and soulful.) PEGGY SUE: You’re not stupid. 20 BETTY LOU: Yes, I am. You tried to tell me. You tried to warn me, but I wasn’t listening.

PEGGY SUE: I’m sorry, what?

BETTY LOU: Don’t joke. Just forget about me. You’re going to anyway, just go. 25 PEGGY SUE: I’m not going anywhere. BETTY LOU: Yes, you are. You’re going off to college, leaving your friends behind. Me behind. (That was a hard confession. PEGGY SUE takes BETTY LOU’S hands and holds them a moment, wondering what to say.) It’s like you’re giving up your whole life for me. 30 PEGGY SUE: You’ve got grease under your nails. BETTY LOU: I know. It doesn’t come out. PEGGY SUE: And your hair smells like gasoline. BETTY LOU: Yeah. It doesn’t come out, no matter how much I shampoo. 35 PEGGY SUE: Don’t you see? If I don’t give up this life, it’ll follow me wherever I go. The grease and the gas. If I want to make

24 1 something of my life, it’s got to change. (Looks at her watch.) Oh, my gosh! (She’s about to leave when the PREPPIES ENTER. They are not happy.) PEYTON: Well, dangablasty! There you are. We’ve looked everywhere 5 for you. Pick anywhere in the universe, and we already looked there. BIFFY: (Shows off new shoes, earrings and purse.) You weren’t at the shoe store, the jewelry store or JC Penney. PEYTON: We were going to go shopping to get the perfect outﬁ t for 10 your interview tomorrow. BIFFY: Twenty percent off. Couldn’t you just die? PEGGY SUE: Oh, you guys, I am so sorry! NIGEL: This doesn’t bode well. You need to make a good impression with the house mother.

15 PEGGY SUE: I know.

PEYTON: You have to look like Alpha Delta Pi material.

PEGGY SUE: I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again. Pinkie swear. I’ll look

my best for tomorrow. I promise. BIFFY: Hey, let’s go to Sears. They’re having a sale on cement

20 mixers. BETTY LOU: Why do you need a cement mixer? BIFFY: (Duh.) Because it’s on sale. (EXITS. PEGGY SUE lets out a heavy sigh. BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Five

ACT ONE Scene Six LIGHTS UP: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, later that day. GEARHEADS 25 and MOMMA MO ENTER. She’s an old Russian woman who reminds us of pumpernickel. Crusty on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. BOOSTER: YOUR CAR IS LOOKING GREAT, JACK. VELOCITY: (Covers her ears.) Amp it down, Booster. BOOSTER: WHAT? 30 VELOCITY: Not so loud! BOOSTER: YOU BET I’M PROUD. JACK’S CAR IS GONNA BE THE BEST EVER. MO: Booster iz right. Booster iz loud, but iz right. Jack, your car vill be fastest and brightest car in all of state.

35 TURBO: We- still- hafta- get- the- new- 18- inch- wheels- with- the-

custom- chrome- super- coat- and- the- butterﬂ y- piston- head- if- this- puppy- is- gonna- ﬂ y- the- way- she- could. 25 1 MO: Vhatever you need, you look through junkyard and take. No charge. JACK: Thanks, Mo. MO: Iz not problem. You kids are best customers ever. And I know how 5 much car means to you, malchik. TURBO: If- we- get- your- car- souped- up- the- way- we- can- you- could- be- on- the- cover- of- Hot- Rod- magazine. VELOCITY: (Love struck.) Hot Rod magazine. BOOSTER: WHAT? 10 VELOCITY: Hot Rod magazine! BOOSTER: NO THANKS. I GET IT DELIVERED TO THE HOUSE. VELOCITY: Won’t be long now, Jack. You’ll have the hottest car in the state. Can you just see it, Jack? You and me. At the Grand Prix.

Then we can do the smaller races. Daytona. Le Mans. Traveling 15 the circuit. Side by side. Soon as you graduate, the racing circuit will snatch you up, and we’ll be touring the country! The best driver (Slaps JACK.), the fastest pit crew (Slaps TURBO and BOOSTER.) and the hottest car. Tell me that’s not your dream. JACK: That all sounds swell to me, Velocity. I’ve been dreaming about 20 that since I was just a little kid with Matchbox cars who could spend all day in the garage watching his daddy work on cars. I can’t remember a day I didn’t have grease under my nails and the roar of an engine in my ears. I can only think of one thing I’ve ever loved more than cars… (ALL notice that PEGGY SUE and BETTY 25 LOU have ENTERED. Tense, awkward beat.) PEGGY SUE: Hi, everybody. VELOCITY: What are you doing here? BOOSTER: HEY, LOOK! IT’S PEGGY SUE AND HER LITTLE SISTER! PEGGY SUE: Jack, can I talk to you? 30 VELOCITY: (Takes JACK’S arm.) We’ve got nothing to say to you. PEGGY SUE: Please? It’s important. JACK: Where are your new friends? PEGGY SUE: Five minutes. JACK: Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of everybody.

35 PEGGY SUE: Okay, I guess it concerns everybody anyway. (Takes a deep breath and dives in.) I’ve come to ask a favor.

BOOSTER: CHOCOLATE. VELOCITY: FA-vor. No “L.” BOOSTER: WHAT? VELOCITY: No “L.”

26 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 BOOSTER: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, TOO. (Twirls a ﬁ nger around his ear like VELOCITY is crazy.) IT’S NOT EVEN THE HOLIDAY SEASON. PEGGY SUE: I need to get the Skyliner back up to speed. TURBO: Oh- wow- Peggy- Sue- you’re- racing- again- that’s- really- 5 exciting- news- I- always- knew- you’d- come- back- to- the- garage- I- knew- you’d- start- racing- again- I- told- these- guys— PEGGY SUE: I’m not back. I just need one race, that’s all. JACK: One race? PEGGY SUE: Yes. 10 JACK: But you’re not racing again? PEGGY SUE: Just the one time. (Exchanges a look with BETTY LOU.) Look, it’s a long story. VELOCITY: We’ve got time. PEGGY SUE: For old time’s sake, will you help me get my car into 15 racing form? (EVERYONE looks to JACK. He thinks this over a long time, then…)

JACK: No. (PEGGY SUE nods like she should’ve known. Then turns to

leave. That’s when MO whacks JACK on the back of the head.)

MO: Vhat iz wrong vith you? Have you no shame? No pride?

20 JACK: Hey, she’s the one that turned her back on us, remember?

MO: She did not turn her back. She moved forward. Zis iz life, Jack. Peggy Sue wants college, make better life for herself. Vhat iz wrong vith zis? JACK: Well, I just—

25 MO: Iz how I came to zis country. I had to leave behind family. Friends.

JACK: But you had no choice.

MO: Everybody has choice. I could’ve stayed in Russia under Soviet

regime. But iz not life I wanted. Same for Peggy Sue. She iz just 30 like you. JACK: We’re nothing alike. MO: You take cars and replace old parts? Parts zhat don’t work so good anymore. You vork hard, shift and shape until car can be best car it can be, no? 35 JACK: No. I mean yeah. MO: Zhat iz all she iz doing vith life. She ﬁ xing life to make it better. JACK: What’s wrong with this one? MO: Nozzing for you. Iz not right for her. Everybody look to ﬁ nish line, Jack. Everybody look to be vinner. Vhat about you? 40 JACK: Don’t worry about us. We know what we gotta do. (MUSIC CUE 5: “Checkered Flag.” Turns away from her and joins GEARHEADS.

27 1 MO observes the group. [NOTE: The song takes place on three separate areas of the stage and is directed to the AUDIENCE. The GEARHEADS are DOWN RIGHT. All the OTHER KIDS—the PREPPIES, BETTY LOU’S FRIENDS and the 45ERS—ENTER and join PEGGY 5 SUE and BETTY LOU DOWN CENTER. DAYTONA and the GREASERS ENTER and are DOWN LEFT. A chorus of BACKUP SINGERS ENTER

and can be located all around the stage. [See PRODUCTION NOTES.] The three groups do not interact; each should be LIGHTED when they sing and FREEZE when they do not.) 10 GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We gotta make it to the ﬁ nish line. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop!

GEARHEADS: (Sing.) A little luck and we’ll be doin’ ﬁ ne.

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop!

GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We’ll be cruisin’ down the Main Street drag. 15 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We gotta make it to the checkered ﬂ ag. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing under the following line.) Ah! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We’ve got dreams and we’ve got seeds to sow. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) 20 Shoo bee doo-wop! Shoo bee doo bee doo-wop! (Sing under the following line.) Ah! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) Gotta crank it up and get that get-up-’n’-go! BACKUP SINGERS: (Speak, in rhythm.) Hey, daddy-o, whadaya know? (Sing.) Bah doo bop! 25 GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We’re working hard both night ’n’ day. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We wouldn’t have it any other way. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) There’ll come a time, 30 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We’re gonna say… BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) …stick it to the competition! GEARHEADS/BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) 35 Hey, we got the checkered ﬂ ag! (LIGHTS DIM on GEARHEADS, who FREEZE in place. LIGHTS UP ON ALL OTHER KIDS.) PEGGY SUE/PREPPIES: (Sing.) We’re all excited ’cause we’re college bound! BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop!

28 1 PEGGY SUE/PREPPIES: (Sing.) We can’t believe we’re really leavin’ town! BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! PEGGY SUE/PREPPIES: (Sing.) 5 Campus life is gonna be a brand new bag,

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop!

PEGGY SUE/PREPPIES: (Sing.) A stop along the way to the checkered ﬂ ag! BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing under the following line.) Ah! 10 BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) All that homework sure can make ya blue.

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.)

Shoo bee doo-wop! Shoo bee doo bee doo-wop! (Sing under the following line.) Ah! 15 45ERS: (Sing.) What’s on the fl ipside? I’ve got things to do. BACKUP SINGERS: (Speak in rhythm.) Boo hoo hoo, poor little you! (Sing.) Bah doo bop! PREPPIES: (In reference to PEGGY SUE.) She’ll be the hit of the sorority. 20 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! BETTY LOU/PORTIA/EDSEL: (Sing.) We think we may be fl unking history. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) I’m gonna brag! 25 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! BETTY LOU: (Sings.) I’m gonna gag! BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! ALL OTHER KIDS: (Sing.) We gotta fi nd a way to… ALL OTHER KIDS/BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) 30 …make it to the checkered fl ag! (LIGHT DIM on ALL OTHER KIDS, who FREEZE in place. LIGHTS UP ON DAYTONA and GREASERS.) DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) I got a feeling that we’re gonna score. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) 35 I’m smellin’ money while the engines roar. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) And we’ll be walkin’ with a little swag, BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) A-when we clean up on the checkered fl ag! 29 1 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing under the following line.) Ah! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) Peggy Sue’s gonna make us rich tonight. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) 5 Shoo bee doo-wop! Shoo bee doo bee doo-wop! (Sing under the following line.) Ah! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Gotta keep them crazy coppers out of sight! SHERIFF/DEPUTY: (Quickly pop IN. Speak in rhythm.) Hey, can you tell us where the drag race is? (Pop OUT just as quickly.) 10 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) We gotta keep ’er on a real short leash. BACKUP SINGERS.): Bah(Sing doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Not a word gets out! (Speaks.) Capeesh? 15 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop!

DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) We’ll make ’er zig!

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop!

DAYTONA/GREASERS: (Sing.) We’ll make ’er zag!

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop!

20 DAYTONA: (Sings.) Gonna raise the price tag…

DAYTONA/GREASERS/BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) …once we get the checkered ﬂ ag! (INSTRUMENTAL/DANCE INTERLUDE. ALL THREE GROUPS come together CENTER STAGE and cautiously observe each other. One couple begins to dance…

25 then another… and another… Before long EVERYONE is dancing, though we never see JACK and PEGGY SUE together.)

ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) We gotta make it to the ﬁ nish line!

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop!

ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) A little luck and we’ll be doin’ ﬁ ne! 30 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) We’ll be cruisin’ down the Main Street drag! BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Doo-wop! ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) We gotta make it to the checkered ﬂ ag! BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing under the following line.) Ah! 35 ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) We’ve got dreams and we’ve got seeds to sow. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo-wop! Shoo bee doo bee doo-wop! (Sing under the following line.) Ah! ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) Gotta crank it up and get that get-up-’n’-go!

30 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 BACKUP SINGERS: (Speak in rhythm.) Hey, daddy-o, whadaya know? (Sing.) Bah doo bop! ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) We’re workin’ hard both night ’n’ day. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! 5 ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) We wouldn’t have it any other way. BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! ALL GROUPS: (Sing.) There’ll come a time, BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We’re gonna say… 10 BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bah doo bop! GEARHEADS: (Sing.) …stick it to the competition! ALL: (Sing.) Hey, we got the checkered ﬂ ag!

BACKUP SINGERS: (Sing.) Bop! Bop! Bop! Bop!

ALL: (Sing.) Doo-wop! Bop! Bop! Bop! Bop! 15 Doo-wop! Bop! Bop! Bop! Bop! Doo-wop! (BLACKOUT. CURTAIN. MUSIC OUT.) End of ACT ONE

ACT TWO Scene One MUSIC CUE 5a: “Entr’acte—Alpha Delta Pi.” AT RISE: The malt shop, the next day. MUSIC CUE 6: “A Blast from the Past.” ALL THE KIDS are ONSTAGE in their groups, engaged in

20 animated conversations. The 45ERS are standing next to the jukebox and stay there while ALL OTHER KIDS move DOWN CENTER. BOYS: (Sing.) Hey, what’s buzzin’, cuzzin, at the drag strip? GIRLS: (Sing.) Golly gee, the word’s all over town. ALL: (Sing.) Peggy Sue is racing! Man, that girl is fast! 25 We’re gonna have a real race at last. A blast from the past! (ALL gossip and chitchat.) BOYS: (Sing.) Got the word she’s racing for Daytona. GIRLS: (Sing.) Can’t believe she’s driving for that clown! ALL: (Sing.) Wonder where they’re dragging? 30 She’ll never be surpassed. We’re gonna have a real race at last. A blast from the past! (The groups turn inward and mime more chitchatting and gossiping. Turn to AUDIENCE. Sing.) Chit-chit, chat! Rat-tat-tah-tat-tat! (Resume group gossip.) 35 45ERS: (Sing.) Let’s spin another record on the juke!

1 ALL: (Turn to AUDIENCE. Sing.) Chit-chit, chat! Rat-tat-tah-tat-tat! (Resume group gossip.) 45ERS: (One of them drops a coin in the juke and makes a selection, which catches the attention of the OTHERS. Sing.) 5 Gonna dance ’n’ bop ’n’ swing ’n’ hop… (Speak in rhythm.) …till we puke! (DANCE/INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE. ALL dance a wild and outrageous dance. At the end of the dance, ALL return to their positions.) GIRLS: (Sing.) Has anybody heard what she’ll be drivin’? 10 BOYS: (Sing.) It’s got to be a screamin’ demon rod! ALL: (Sing.) I can’t believe she’s racing. It’s too good to be true. Peggy Sue will never be outclassed. Peggy Sue is racin’. Man, that girl is fast! We’re gonna have a real race at last. 15 A blast from the past! (The KIDS begins to EXIT in their groups.

45ERS stay by the jukebox.)

BOYS: (Speak to GIRLS. Flirtatious.) See ya later, alligator!

GIRLS: (Speak to BOYS. Flirtatious.) In a while, crocodile! (MUSIC OUT.

BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene One

ACT TWO Scene Two

20 LIGHTS UP: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, the same day. Now there’s a car under a tarp. We never see the car, so all we need is the shape under a cover. PEGGY SUE, BOOSTER and TURBO are on their backs under the car. VELOCITY is tinkering with a spare tire. JACK cleans tools. PEGGY SUE slides out from under the car, her hands black with 25 grease and grime. PEGGY SUE: Well, that should just about do it. BOOSTER: WE’RE ALMOST DONE HERE. PEGGY SUE: We just have to replace the oil pan. BOOSTER: I CAN’T DO THAT UNTIL I REPLACE THE OIL PAN. 30 PEGGY SUE: (To VELOCITY, who is futzing with the tire.) How are you coming? VELOCITY: (Stares at JACK.) It’s a mess. PEGGY SUE: Can you ﬁ x it? VELOCITY: I dunno. I can patch things up, but it’ll never be like it was.

35 PEGGY SUE: It’s just got to get through one race.

VELOCITY: (Sharp.) That’s it, huh? Just use it up and throw it away?

32 1 PEGGY SUE: Um, yeah, if I’m done with it. VELOCITY: What if it’s not done with you? PEGGY SUE: (Confused.) Why wouldn’t it be done with me? VELOCITY: Oh, like it doesn’t have feelings. 5 PEGGY SUE: The tire? VELOCITY: Like it doesn’t stare at the moon and pine over you. PEGGY SUE: The tire? VELOCITY: Like it still doesn’t love you. PEGGY SUE: Love me? (Touched.) We’re not talking about the tire, 10 are we? VELOCITY: You treat it right this time. If you bust it up again, you answer to me. (Shoves the tire at PEGGY SUE and marches OFF. PEGGY SUE is still reeling from the whole tire love thing. She’s not sure how to feel when JACK approaches.) 15 JACK: Looks like things are running smooth. PEGGY SUE: (Looking into his eyes.) Yeah. JACK: Not bad for ﬁ ve hours work. PEGGY SUE: Yeah— Five hours?! Oh, no no no! I gotta go! JACK: What?!

20 PEGGY SUE: I’m late.

JACK: We still have to fi x the timing belt, fl ush the fl uids and set the alignment. PEGGY SUE: I can do all that when I get back. JACK: We’re sweating bullets to do this for you, and you gotta go?

25 PEGGY SUE: Yes.

JACK: Just gonna run away again?

PEGGY SUE: (That punches her buttons.) I didn’t run away, Jack. JACK: Yeah, then where have you been? I’m still here. PEGGY SUE: And you always will be. 30 TURBO: This- is- one- of- those- times- when- we- shouldn’t- be- listening- but- you- can’t- really- help- yourself- and- you- want- to- turn- away- but- you- don’t- kinda- like- watching- Lucy- doing- chocolates- on- the- conveyor- belt- thing. PEGGY SUE: You’ll never change. 35 JACK: Why would I? BOOSTER: WOOD EYE? WHO’S GOT A WOOD EYE? TURBO: Nobody. BOOSTER: What? TURBO: NOBODY HAS A WOOD EYE.

33 1 PEGGY SUE: But I want to change. (EXITS.) JACK: (Watches her go a moment.) But I loved you the way you were. BOOSTER: MY GRANDPA HAS FALSE TEETH. (BLACKOUT.) End of Scene Two

ACT TWO Scene Three LIGHTS UP: The malt shop, later that day. The PREPPIES are there, 5 and they aren’t happy. EXTRAS ﬁ ll out tables, as desired. PEGGY SUE rushes ON. PEGGY SUE: Hi. Hi, I am so sorry I’m late! BIFFY: Again. PEGGY SUE: I know, I know. 10 PEYTON: (To BIFFY.) See, I told you she wasn’t in an accident. You could take all the accidents that have ever occurred, and she wouldn’t be in any of them. NIGEL: You were supposed to meet us here an hour ago. PEGGY SUE: I know. 15 NIGEL: You missed your interview with the house mother. PEGGY SUE: (Hangs her head.) Yeah. NIGEL: She was less than pleased. PEGGY SUE: Oh, you guys… BIFFY: If you don’t want to be our sorority sister— 20 PEGGY SUE: I do, you guys. I really really do. NIGEL: I was able to reschedule for tomorrow. PEGGY SUE: Thank you. NIGEL: But there can be no reoccurrence. PEGGY SUE: There won’t be. 25 NIGEL: We put our reputations on the line to vouch for you. PEGGY SUE: I will be everything you want me to be. PEYTON: (Grabs PEGGY SUE’S right hand.) Gadzooks! What happened to your hands? PEGGY SUE: (Pulls her hand away.) Nothing. 30 BIFFY: (Grabs PEGGY SUE’S left hand.) Your nails are grody. PEGGY SUE: It’s um—nail polish. BIFFY: It’s black. PEGGY SUE: It’s French. (BIFFY is not sold.) NIGEL: Your hair has the aroma of gasoline. PEGGY SUE: It’s a new shampoo. I hate it.

34 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 PEYTON: Don’t use it tomorrow. The house mother will hate it, too. PEGGY SUE: Right. No, I won’t. BIFFY: Come on, let’s go. I have to return a ping-pong table before the store closes. 5 NIGEL: Tomorrow, ﬁ ve o’clock sharp.

PEGGY SUE: You can count on me. (PREPPIES EXIT. LIGHTS FADE to

BLACK.)

End of Scene Three

ACT TWO

Scene Four

LIGHTS UP: The racetrack (played in front of the curtain), the next day. MO is looking at a stopwatch while GEARHEADS, BETTY LOU, PORTIA

10 and EDSEL are looking OFF LEFT. MUSIC CUE 7: “Trial Run.” PORTIA: (Speaks.) Here we are, just one day before the race, and Peggy Sue McAllister is about to test her newly souped-up car. Tension is high and the crowd waits in an awed hush. EDSEL: Hussssshhhhhhh.

15 PORTIA: (Speaks.) Peggy Sue starts the car. (SOUND EFFECT: CAR STARTING.) She revs the engine. (SOUND EFFECT: ENGINE REVVING.) And she’s off. (SOUND EFFECT: TIRES SQUEALING.)

ALL: (Sing.) There goes the coolest chick and the hottest driver in the town. 20 I’m gonna make my pick. Yes, Peggy Sue’ll shut’m down. That girl’s gonna show ’em just a-how it’s done. She’s a demon on wheels in the quarter mile run. Hey, hey, Peggy Sue! MO: (Hits the stopwatch. SOUND EFFECT: CAR SCREECHING to a HALT. 25 ALL are cheering. MUSIC OUT.) Look at time! JACK: Can that be right? MO: Iz absolutely right. PORTIA: Peggy Sue is out of the car and the crowd goes wild. EDSEL: (Makes crowd noises.) 30 PEGGY SUE: (Runs ON LEFT and the GEARHEADS surround her.) How’d we do? MO: Shift from second to third iz weak. JACK: Timing was slow. We need to adjust the belt. BETTY LOU: Are the pistons okay? Thought I heard a click. 35 PEGGY SUE: But how was the time? Can we win? MO: Best time ever. PEGGY SUE: You’re kidding?

35 1 MO: No, deadly serious. (PEGGY SUE screams, excited. BETTY LOU joins her. Then EVERYONE is screaming and jumping for joy, hugging each other. Caught up in the moment, PEGGY SUE and JACK suddenly ﬁ nd themselves hugging. Something is rekindled, and they both like it.) 5 EDSEL: Oooh-ooooo-oh. PORTIA: Something’s developing here, folks. Seems our plucky heroine and local pit legend are rekindling an old ﬂ ame. EDSEL: Awwwwwww. VELOCITY: Hey, close your tailpipe. (PORTIA and EDSEL shut up, but 10 EVERYONE is staring at PEGGY SUE and JACK. They break the hug, awkward and uncomfortable.) TURBO: That’s- faster- than- anyone- has- ever- run- this- track- I- mean- I- know- we- did- good- with- the- car- and- all- but- I- didn’t-

think- we’d- made- it- this- good- we- must- be- the- best- pit- crew-

15 in- the- world.

BETTY LOU: I think the driver may have had a part in it.

BOOSTER: YOU BET HER HEART’S IN IT.

BETTY LOU: Not heart. PART. BOOSTER: A PART OF WHAT? 20 BETTY LOU: SHE HAD A PART IN IT. BOOSTER: WHICH PART? BETTY LOU: DRIVING THE CAR. BOOSTER: NO, I’M JUST A MECHANIC. PEGGY SUE DRIVES.

MO: Iz time for celebrate. Everyone back to garage for tea and

25 mandelbreit. (EVERYONE EXITS, leaving only PEGGY SUE and JACK ﬂ oundering.) JACK: You did, ah— PEGGY SUE: Yeah. JACK: Good driving. 30 PEGGY SUE: Thanks. The car runs great. JACK: Thanks.

PEGGY SUE: Thank you.

JACK: No, thank you. (Beat.) So, you like mandelbreit, right?

PEGGY SUE: Yeah. I mean, who doesn’t? But I gotta…

35 JACK: Go? PEGGY SUE: Yeah. JACK: Yeah. PEGGY SUE: Well… JACK: See ya.

36 1 PEGGY SUE: Yeah. JACK: Yeah. (Follows the OTHERS OUT as PEGGY SUE starts to EXIT the other way. JACK is OFF before PEGGY SUE is OFFSTAGE.) PEGGY SUE: (Turns around.) Hey, Jack? (But he’s gone.) 5 CASTROL: (GREASERS march IN directly toward PEGGY SUE.) Hey, Peggy Sue. PEGGY SUE: (Tries to walk past them, but they block her escape route.) What do you guys want? CASTROL: Daytona’s gonna want to see you. 10 PEGGY SUE: Yeah, well, he’ll have to wait. QUAKER: Can’t wait. PEGGY SUE: I’ve got someplace to be. CASTROL: With Daytona. (GREASERS grab PEGGY SUE.) PEGGY SUE: Hey, let me go. Stop it! Quit! 15 QUAKER: She’s a ﬁ ghter. PENZ: (Doing Brando.) I coulda been a contender. QUAKER: Abbott and Costello?

PENZ: Abbott and Costello? It’s Brando.

QUAKER: Sounds like Costello.

20 PENZ: Marlon Brando. (GREASERS literally drag PEGGY SUE, kicking and screaming, OFFSTAGE. BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Four

ACT TWO Scene Five

LIGHTS UP: BACKROOM ALLEY (played in front of the curtain), immediately following. There’s nothing but a trash can and a street sign. PEGGY SUE is held in place by the GREASERS. 25 PEGGY SUE: I’m late. You can’t do this. Let me go. CASTROL: As soon as Daytona gets here. PEGGY SUE: You don’t understand. I can’t be late again. Not again. I have to go. DAYTONA: (ENTERS.) Then I’ll make this quick.

30 PEGGY SUE: Why’d you have your goons drag me here? DAYTONA: Drag? Gentlemen, release the fair lady. As Androcles said, “Kindness affects more than serenity.” PEGGY SUE: It’s “severity” and Aesop said it.

DAYTONA: The point is we have business to discuss, and I can’t do 35 it at the malt shop these days with the sheriff eavesdropping. What’s her time? 37 1 PENZ: (Holds up a stopwatch and imitates Speedy Gonzales.) She was “ándale, ándale, yee-haw, zip-dang.” QUAKER: I love Grace Kelly. PENZ: That’s Speedy Gonzales. 5 QUAKER: Sounded like Grace Kelly. DAYTONA: Impressive time. Your car must be cherry. PEGGY SUE: I told you I’d win the race for you. Now let me go. (Tries to leave, but the GREASERS surround her.) DAYTONA: I think we can make a lot of money together. 10 PEGGY SUE: Then bet big on me tomorrow and clean up. DAYTONA: Yeah. Thing is, I can make more if you lose tomorrow. PEGGY SUE: What?!

DAYTONA: Just hear me out. You lose tomorrow, I can get long odds on more races in the future. 15 PEGGY SUE: There is no future, Daytona.

DAYTONA: We could make a fortune. We’ll be partners, ﬁ fty-ﬁ fty.

PEGGY SUE: We had a deal. One race.

DAYTONA: You’re not thinking this through—

PEGGY SUE: That’s the deal. (Runs OFF.)

20 CASTROL: What are you going to do, boss?

QUAKER: She’s fast.

CASTROL: And you can’t change the deal, or your reputation will be

shot.

DAYTONA: No, I can’t change the deal. But I can make sure she

25 doesn’t win. (BLACKOUT.) End of Scene Five

ACT TWO Scene Six LIGHTS UP DIM: MO’S garage, that evening. DAYTONA ENTERS, followed by the GREASERS, who have crowbars and tire irons in hand. CASTROL: That’s the one, boss. DAYTONA: That’s her Chevy Skyliner? You’re sure? 30 CASTROL: Yeah, boss, I’m sure.

DAYTONA: Too bad. I think this car is heading for a breakdown. (MUSIC

CUE 8: “Breakdown.” Sings.) That car will never race again in my town! Not if I have anything to say. That chick’s been led astray.

38 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sing.) Can’t ﬁ nd her way. GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) Let’s crank it up…

5 ALL: (Sing.) …and make that dolly pay. She’s headin’ for a breakdown! GREASERS: (Sing.) Gonna smash it, bash it, break it into pieces! Crash, bam boom, we’ll shred it chunk by chunk! DAYTONA: (Sings.) That girl’s a dragster punk. 10 GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) I need a slam-dunk. GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sings.) I smell a broke-down pile of junk. (GREASERS smell their armpits.)

15 ALL: (Sing.) She’s headin’ for a breakdown! (MUSIC UNDER.) QUAKER: (Speaks.) But what if somebody ﬁ nds out what we done, boss? PENZ: (Speaks.) Yeah! I don’t wanna go to jail over some chick.

DAYTONA: (Speaks.) Enough with the surface noise.

20 CASTROL: (Speaks; to QUAKER and PENZ. Threatening.) Yeah, I think you better ﬂ ip that record over.

DAYTONA: (Speaks.) Don’t worry, boys. (Dreaming.) Nobody’s goin’ to

jail, and someday, I’m gonna make us all rich.

PENZ: (Speaks.) You sure are the dreamer, boss.

25 DAYTONA: (Speaks. Correcting him.) Hey, I’m not the dreamer… (Slicking back his hair.) I’m the dream-ee! (MUSIC UP.) ALL: (Sing.) Hey, it’s time for Peggy Sue’s initiation! Time to muscle in and take command! DAYTONA: (Sings.) It’s time to…

30 ALL: (Sing.) …strike up the band! GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! ALL: (Sing.) Proceed as planned! GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sing.) I’ll have that dolly eatin’ from my hand! 35 Yes… ALL: (Sing.) …her car’s got one last stop! GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop! DAYTONA: (Sing.) She’s… ALL: (Sing.) …headin’ in the shop.

39 1 GREASERS: (Sing.) Shoo bee doo bop. DAYTONA: (Sings.) Let’s… ALL : (Sing.) …lift the hood and ﬁ x her engine good! She’s headin’ for a breakdown! (DAYTONA snaps his ﬁ ngers and 5 points to the car.) CASTROL: (Getting the message loud and clear. Speaks.) Let’s roll, buddy boys! (The GREASERS, with crowbars and tire irons in hand, turn to the car as DAYTONA smiles mischievously. BLACKOUT. In the

darkness as the music plays out, we hear the sound of the car being 10 pulverized. SOUND EFFECTS: POUNDING ON METAL, SHATTERING GLASS. BLACKOUT. MUSIC OUT.) End of Scene Six

ACT TWO Scene Seven LIGHTS UP: The malt shop, about the same time. EXTRAS as usual. The PREPPIES are stewing when PEGGY SUE runs ON. They’re angry, and PEGGY SUE ends up improvising like crazy. 15 PEGGY SUE: I know I’m late. NIGEL/PEYTON/BIFFY: Again. PEGGY SUE: But it wasn’t my fault. NIGEL: You missed your appointment. PEYTON/BIFFY: Again. 20 PEGGY SUE: I’m sorry. NIGEL: I can’t set up another. PEYTON/BIFFY: Again.

NIGEL: We stuck our neck out for you, and you made us look like

fools.

25 PEYTON: Grand goshiness, where were you?

PEGGY SUE: Where was I?

NIGEL: Do tell us what took precedence over our scheduled future.

PEGGY SUE: I, ah… ran into somebody. BIFFY: And they’re more important than we are? 30 PEGGY SUE: No, no. BIFFY: Evidently yes, yes. PEGGY SUE: No, I mean I ran into somebody. With my car. PEYTON: Well, giant jeepers, are you all right? PEGGY SUE: Me? Oh, yeah, I’m ﬁ ne. 35 NIGEL: You ran into a pedestrian?

40 1 PEGGY SUE: No, he was in a car. It was just a little fender bender. No big deal. BIFFY: If it was no big deal why didn’t you just exchange phone numbers and come right over? 5 PEGGY SUE: (Ummmm…) No big deal for me. Sorta big deal for him. PEYTON: Sorta?

PEGGY SUE: I had to wait until the ambulance came. That’s why I’m

late.

NIGEL: An ambulance. That implies he was injured.

10 PEGGY SUE: Yeah, yeah, they had to rush him to the hospital.

BIFFY: Which hospital?

PEGGY SUE: (Gets more frantic.) The good one. The most doctory

one.

NIGEL: How is he?

15 PEGGY SUE: He didn’t say. NIGEL: Did you inquire? PEGGY SUE: He was unconscious. They took him. BIFFY: You didn’t go with him to see how he was? PEGGY SUE: No, I came right here.

20 NIGEL: (Stands.) We must get to the hospital.

PEGGY SUE: No, we don’t have to go.

NIGEL: It’s our civic duty to a fellow citizen. PEGGY SUE: He’s not a citizen. He’s from out of town. PEYTON: If he was unconscious, how do you know? 25 PEGGY SUE: His car had out of state plates. NIGEL: Then we should hurry. We can help notify his family. They may be worried.

PEGGY SUE: No, we can’t call. It’s—ah—too far away.

PEYTON: Where?

30 PEGGY SUE: Australia. BIFFY: His car was from Australia? PEGGY SUE: Yes. BIFFY: How did an Australian car get here? PEGGY SUE: He drove it. It’s one of those new boat-cars. (The 35 PREPPIES share a look, then as a unit begin to EXIT.) Wait. Where are you going? PEYTON: Gee willikers, Peggy Sue. If you don’t want to be part of us, that’s ﬁ ne. PEGGY SUE: But I do.

41 1 BIFFY: Then don’t treat us like fools. (PREPPIES head for the door again when PEGGY SUE gives up all pretence. She opts for 100- proof honesty, but tensions are running high.) PEGGY SUE: You’re right. I didn’t hit anybody. But you knew that. 5 NIGEL: Indeed. PEGGY SUE: I was at the track. BIFFY: The racetrack? NIGEL: You associate with those… gearheads? You said you didn’t know that fellow. 10 PEGGY SUE: Well… NIGEL: My advice is to avoid them. They are untrustworthy, blue- collar hot rodders. That Jack character took money to repair my

transmission and failed to deliver.

PEGGY SUE: He says he told you your Chevy needed a new transmission, 15 but you wanted him to ﬁ x the unﬁ xable.

NIGEL: And you’ll take his word over mine?

PEGGY SUE: The gearshift chain was frayed, the valves were shot and the axle was worn. BIFFY: How do you know all that? 20 PEGGY SUE: Because I’m one of them. I lied to you. I’m just a lowly, blue-collar hot rodder. PEYTON: Holy ravioli. Why didn’t you tell us? PEGGY SUE: Would you have invited me into your sorority if you knew? Would you accept someone who has to take a shower after work? 25 Who wears coveralls and boots instead of a poodle skirts and saddle shoes? (The PREPPIES sit stunned.)

BETTY LOU: (Bursts INTO the shop.) Peggy Sue! Come quick!

PEGGY SUE: What is it?

BETTY LOU: You gotta come! Now! (Dum-dum-dum. BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Seven

ACT TWO

Scene Eight

30 LIGHTS UP: Mo’s Garage and Junkyard, immediately following. MO, the GEARHEADS, EDSEL and PORTIA are looking at the crumpled heap of the tarp. MO: This iz bad. Very bad. JACK: Like Russia under Stalin. 35 MO: No, not even close. Still, this iz pretty bad. (Now PEGGY SUE runs IN with BETTY LOU.)

42 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 PEGGY SUE: (Stops for just a second to take it all in.) No. No. (Runs to the car, but JACK hugs her to stop her.) Nooooooo! What happened? JACK: We don’t know. It looks like somebody destroyed the car. 5 BOOSTER: NOT ONLY THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY DESTROYED THE CAR. PEGGY SUE: Who would do something like this? DAYTONA: (ENTERS.) Hello, Peggy Sue. I heard you had car trouble. PEGGY SUE: You! 10 DAYTONA: I came to see if there’s anything I can do. PEGGY SUE: You did this. (Attacks, but JACK holds her back.) JACK: No. Peggy Sue, he’s not worth it. DAYTONA: I have no idea what you’re talking about. PEGGY SUE: You destroyed my car. You want me to lose that race.

15 DAYTONA: I’m hurt. Do you have any proof? Any witnesses? ’Cause I have three guys ready to swear I was shooting dice all night. BOOSTER: WHO WAS HE SHOOTING TWICE ALL NIGHT? VELOCITY: Booster.

DAYTONA: Looks like you won’t be able to race.

20 JACK: Wrong. She can use my car. PEGGY SUE: Jack?

DAYTONA: Wrong, Jack. She said she was racing a Chevy Skyliner. That’s the race I set up. That’s what the competition expects.

Anything else and she broke our deal.

25 VELOCITY: That’s not fair. DAYTONA: The one principle of justice is in the interest of the stronger. Pluto said that.

PEGGY SUE: Mickey Mouse’s dog did not say that. It’s Plato, you idiot. 30 DAYTONA: (Harsh whisper in her face.) I’d be careful how you talk to me since you’re going to be working for me for a full year. (EXITS. There are a few beats of tension. Then BETTY LOU steps up.)

BETTY LOU: Peggy Sue, I’m so sorry. PEGGY SUE: It’s not your fault. 35 BETTY LOU: It’s all my fault. And I gotta fi x it. I’ll go to the sheriff. PEGGY SUE: No. BETTY LOU: You got into this because of me. If I turn myself in, Daytona has no hold over you. PEGGY SUE: I’m not going to let you take the heat for Daytona. He’s the mastermind. 43 1 BETTY LOU: It doesn’t matter. PEGGY SUE: It does to me. No, Betty Lou. Promise me you won’t go to the sheriff. Promise me. BETTY LOU: All right. I promise. (EXITS, but pauses long enough for 5 us to see she has her fi ngers crossed again. The OTHERS drift OFF, leaving JACK and PEGGY SUE alone.) PEGGY SUE: Hey, who needs college anyway? JACK: You do. PEGGY SUE: No, I like it here just fi ne.

10 JACK: Just ﬁ ne isn’t enough. You’re not a racer anymore. You can’t put it all on the line just to end up where you started. PEGGY SUE: I thought you wanted me here. JACK: I did. I do. But only if your heart is here. You gotta see what’s out there to know.

15 PEGGY SUE: You’d miss me.

JACK: How’d you guess? (MUSIC CUE 9: “You’ll Always Be a Part of Me.” Sings.) Do you remember all the good times? You were my angel, too good to be true. But the years brought so many changes. 20 Now you’re no longer the girl I once knew. PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) You were my dreamboat. You were my hero. You were that sweet boy who made me smile. And those mem’ries will never leave me. Why can’t we dream again for a while? 25 JACK/PEGGY SUE: (Sing.) Hey there, don’t you worry. I will always be watching over you. And hey there, guess it’s destiny. You will always be a part of me. Yes, you’ll always be a part of me. (DANCE/INSTRUMENTAL

30 INTERLUDE. JACK reaches for PEGGY SUE’S hand and the two dance a 1950s waltz.)

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) So many feelings I’ve kept inside me. So many reasons I need to go. JACK: (Sings.) I will never, never forget you. 35 And my angel, I want you to know.

JACK/PEGGY SUE: (Sing.) Hey there, don’t you worry. I will always be watching over you. And hey there, guess it’s destiny. You will always be a part of me. 40 Yes, you’ll always be a part… of me! (As the music plays out, JACK and PEGGY SUE slowly embrace. MUSIC OUT.)

44 1 JACK: (Excited.) I’ve got an idea. We’ll use the parts from my car to turn that Chevy Skyliner into a real screamer. PEGGY SUE: I can’t let you cannibalize your car just to help me win this race. That car means the world to you. 5 JACK: Hey, we’re part of each other, right? What are friends for? Besides, you’re lookin’ at the best mechanic in town. After the race, I’ll put it back together good as new. PEGGY SUE: (Overwhelmed.) I… I don’t know what to say. JACK: Just say you’ll be my co-pilot. 10 PEGGY SUE: (Ecstatic.) No problem. (Light bulb.) But actually, I have even a better idea. (She leans in and starts whispering to him. MUSIC CUE 9a: “You’ll Always Be A Part Of Me–Music Tag.” As LIGHTS FADE to BLACK, JACK and PEGGY SUE continue to conspire.) End of Scene Eight

ACT TWO Scene Nine LIGHTS UP: The malt shop, immediately following. The PREPPIES are 15 still there, along with the 45ERS and EXTRAS. JACK and PEGGY SUE

ENTER and approach the PREPPIES. Awkward tension.

JACK: Can we sit?

BIFFY: Sure you want to be seen with snobs like us?

PEGGY SUE: I love all of you. Can’t you guys learn to like people 20 different from yourselves? (PREPPIES shrug. JACK sits and takes a big bite of humble pie.)

JACK: (To NIGEL.) I’m really sorry about your car. I did try to ﬁ x it.

Please believe me, I spent hours and hours—

NIGEL: I believe you.

25 JACK: You do?

NIGEL: Peggy Sue conﬁ rmed your diagnosis.

JACK: That’s it? NIGEL: I trust her word. As far as I’m concerned, our deal is concluded.

30 JACK: Yeah. About that. I’d like to offer you a new deal. NIGEL: Indeed? JACK: I will ﬁ x your car. Tailpipe to grill. Get it in mint condish, faster and better than anything on the road.

NIGEL: And this will cost me…?

35 JACK: One loan. You let Peggy Sue drive it tomorrow. One time. NIGEL: Why?

45 1 JACK: It’s complicated and— PEGGY SUE: I need it for a drag race. PEYTON: Goodness glaciers. PEGGY SUE: I have to drive a Chevy Skyliner. Which is exactly your 5 car. NIGEL: Is this lawful? JACK: Well, there are a lot of grey areas— PEGGY SUE: No. But my sister got in over her head with a bookie, and this is the only way out. (NIGEL thinks a moment, then offers his 10 hand for a shake. JACK is about to take it but is embarrassed about the condition of his own hand.) JACK: Kinda grimy. (NIGEL won’t lower his hand. The offer stands. JACK takes it and shakes.) Good, good, great. Now here’s what we need to do. (MUSIC CUE 10: “Work, Work All Together.” They huddle up 15 and speak in whispers. Sings.) We gotta show those goons that we ain’t afraid. We won’t be pushed around! (GEARHEADS ENTER and join in.)

PEGGY SUE: (Sings.)

They’re gonna ﬁ nd out soon we’re competition grade, 20 We’ll run ’em in the ground! NIGEL: (Sings.) We’re gonna be ready. VELOCITY: (Sings.) They don’t stand a chance! JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY: (Sing.) Spin a record on the juke box, baby, 25 Let’s begin the dance! JACK/GEARHEADS: (Sing.) We’re gonna win this race just wait and see, It’s gonna be a bust. PEGGY SUE/PREPPIES: (Sing.) 30 We’re gonna set the pace, we guarantee, We’ll make ’em eat our dust. GEARHEADS/PREPPIES: (Sing.) We’re gonna be heroes. We’ll party and brag. When we shut ’em down and get that checkered ﬂ ag.

35 ALL: (Including EXTRAS, 45ERS. Sing.) Work, work! JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (Sing.) Work together. Push it through the night! ALL OTHERS: (Sing.) Sha na na na! JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (Sing.) 40 We gotta… ALL: (Sing.) Work, work!

46 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (Sing.) All together, till we build it right. ALL OTHERS: (Sing.) NIGEL: (Sings.) Sha na na na! Doo wah! Just give me a 5 Hup! ratchet! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) Hup! Doo wah! Just hand me a Hup! wrench!

Hup!

ALL: (Sing.) 10 Look out, there’s a brand new Chevy dragster hittin’ the trench! (The following STANZAS are sung as a TRIO.) TURBO/BOOSTER/EXTRA GUYS: (Sing.) Dip dah dip dah dip! JACK: (Sings.) We gotta bolt the headers, tweak the carb, 15 Make sure she’s stroked and bored. NIGEL: (Speaks, completely confused.) What?! PEGGY SUE: (Sings.) We gotta time the camshaft. VELOCITY: (Sings.) Torque the lifters. JACK: (Sings.) She’ll barrel when she’s ﬂ oored! 20 PEYTON/BIFFY/EXTRA GIRLS: (Sing, softly under.) Sha doo bee doo, doo-wop sha wada wada! Sha doo bee doo, doo!

Sha doo bee doo, doo-wop sha wada wada!

Sha doo bee doo, doo!

25 TURBO/BOOSTER/EXTRA GUYS: (Sing, softly under.)

Boom sha boom sha boom, digitty dip dah dip! Boom sha boom sha boom! Rama lama ding dong! Boom sha boom sha boom, digitty dip dah dip! Wop bop a loo mop ka changitty chang sha bop! 30 ALL OTHERS: NIGEL: (Sings.) (Sing.) Ah! I’ll just be the gopher Ah! I’ll bring a hot plate. ALL: (Sing.) Yes, it’s time to stick together. We can’t be late! (The following TWO STANZAS are sung as a DUET.) 35 JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (Sing.) We gotta work, work! Work together. Gotta set the pace! We gotta work, work, All together. Gonna win this race! 40 ALL OTHERS: (Sing.) Work, work! Sha na na na!

47 1 Work, work! Sha na na na! Ah! ALL: (Sing.) We’re gonna be ready if it takes all night. Hey there, Mr. Big-Shot Greaser Man, you’re in for a ﬁ ght! 5 TURBO/BOOSTER/EXTRA GUYS: (Sing.) Doo bah doo bah doo bah doo bah! (The following THREE STANZAS

are sung as a TRIO.)

JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRA GUYS: (Sing.) We’re gonna show those goons that we ain’t afraid, 10 We can’t be pushed around! They’re gonna ﬁ nd out soon we’re competition grade, We’ll run ’em in the ground! PEYTON/BIFFY/EXTRA GIRLS: (Sing.) Sha doo bee doo, doo-wop sha wada wada! 15 Sha doo bee doo, doo! Sha doo bee doo, doo-wop sha wada wada!

Sha doo bee doo, doo!

TURBO/BOOSTER/EXTRA GUYS: (Sing.) Boom sha boom sha boom, digitty dip dah dip! 20 Boom sha boom sha boom! Rama lama ding dong! Boom sha boom sha boom, digitty dip dah dip! Wop bop a loo mop ka changitty chang sha bop! ALL OTHERS: JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/ (Sing.) VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (Sing.) 25 Ah! We’re gonna be ready. Ah! They don’t stand a chance. ALL: (Sing.) Spin a record on the jukebox, baby, let’s begin the dance! (The following TWO STANZAS are sung as a DUET.) 30 JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (Sing.) We gotta work, work! Work together. Push it through the night!

We gotta work, work,

All together. Till we build it right!

35 ALL OTHERS: (Sing.) Work, work! Sha na na na! Work, work! Sha na na na! Work, work! Sha na na na! Ah! ALL GUYS: (Sing.) Just give me a ratchet!

ALL GIRLS: (Sing.) Just hand me a wrench!

48 1 ALL: (Sing.) Look out, there’s a brand new Chevy dragster hittin’ the trench! (As the song plays out, ALL interact in a positive way, shaking hands, hugging, patting each other on the backs, etc.) 5 JACK/PEGGY SUE/NIGEL/VELOCITY/EXTRAS: (The following THREE STANZAS are sung as a TRIO and repeated once.) Ooo! Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah! PEYTON/BIFFY/EXTRA GIRLS: (Sing.) Sha doo bee doo, doo-wop sha wada wada! 10 Sha doo bee doo, doo! Sha doo bee doo, doo-wop sha wada wada! Sha doo bee doo, doo! TURBO/BOOSTER/EXTRA GUYS: (Sing.) Boom sha boom sha boom, digitty dip!

15 Boom sha boom sha boom! Rama lama ding dong!

Boom sha boom sha boom, digitty dip! Boom sha boom sha boom! Rama lama ding dong! ALL: (Sing.) Let’s get busy and work! (MUSIC OUT. BLACKOUT.) End of Scene Nine

ACT TWO Scene Ten LIGHTS UP: Jenkin’s Music Store, the next day. The 45ERS are there, 20 as always. JENKINS is behind the counter. HI-TONE: It’s okay with me if you wanna have a bobbed collection. WAXX: I just don’t think I need to spend money on a record I already own. HI-TONE: This one the label is off center. It’s a collector’s piece, daddy-o. 25 WAXX: So it’s worth money? HI-TONE: No. What’s your point? WAXX: Wait, I have a point? FLAIR: So this game is more fair. I give you part of a song title, you ﬁ nish it. First one that can’t, loses. 30 VICTOR: Okay. FLAIR: In the heat of— VICTOR: The night. FLAIR: Right. Runaround— VICTOR: Sue. My turn. 35 FLAIR: No, after this one. Johnny B.— VICTOR: Goode. My turn. Rock around the—

49 1 FLAIR: What, that’s not a real song. VICTOR: Yes, it is. FLAIR: Don’t cheat. VICTOR: It’s Rock Around the Clock.

5 FLAIR: Cheater. VICTOR: By Bill Haley and the Comets. FLAIR: Cheat, cheat, cheat. BETTY LOU: (ENTERS and crosses to JENKINS.) Excuse me, Mr. Jenkins. (He ignores her.) Mr. Jenkins! (Still nothing.) Mr. Jenkins! (Taps his 10 shoulder and he looks at her.) JENKINS: What? (Pulls two wads of cotton out of his ears.) For a minute, everything was so peaceful without the rocking and the rolling. Who are you now? BETTY LOU: Sir, I’m Betty Lou. Peggy Sue’s sister. 15 JENKINS: Ah, yes. I am remembering seeing you around sometimes. BETTY LOU: Yes, sir. I need to ask you a gigantically huge favor. I need to borrow some money. JENKINS: You want to borrow— BETTY LOU: Not for me. For Peggy Sue. 20 JENKINS: Why is Peggy Sue not asking? BETTY LOU: She wouldn’t do that, sir. JENKINS: She needs money, she can’t come to me? BETTY LOU: It’s not for her. JENKINS: You said it was for her. My head you’re hurting.

25 BETTY LOU: It’s for me. I got in trouble and she’s trying to get me out.

JENKINS: And this trouble is needing money?

BETTY LOU: Yes, sir. I’ll work it off. I promise. I’ll work all day every day until I’m 35. 30 JENKINS: And how much is your slavery costing me?

BETTY LOU: Five thousand dollars.

JENKINS: Five thousand!! (Clutches his heart and fumbles out his pill bottle. His hands shake too much, so BETTY LOU pours out a couple and hands them to him. She’s taking care of him, just like PEGGY 35 SUE always does. He dry swallows.) BETTY LOU: I know it’s a lot, but I swear— JENKINS: It’s more than a lot. It’s too much. This kind of money I do not have. BETTY LOU: Please.

50 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 JENKINS: Blood from a stone is what you’re asking. I’m sorry. HI-TONE: Hey, Betty Lou, aren’t you going to the race tonight? BETTY LOU: Shut up, Hi-Tone. HI-TONE: I’m just sayin’ Skeleton Alley is all the way across town. You 5 don’t agitate the gravel, you’re gonna be late. BETTY LOU: (To JENKINS.) Thanks anyway. (Races OFF with the 45ERS right behind.) JENKINS: Kids today. (Watches them go, then crosses to the telephone, picks it up and dials.) Hello, Sheriff? You asked me to call if I knew 10 where a dragging race was happening. Some good news is what I have. (BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Ten

ACT TWO Scene Eleven LIGHTS UP: SKELETON ALLEY (played on a bare stage), that evening. A single street sign tells us where we are, and the two hot rods are on one side, ready for the race. (See PRODUCTION NOTES.) The ENTIRE 15 CAST is ONSTAGE except for BIFFY, JENKINS, SHERIFF, the DEPUTY and BETTY LOU.

PORTIA: It looks like we have a record crowd for this event tonight,

folks.

EDSEL: (Crowd noises.)

20 PORTIA: We have a perfect night for the race. The wind is gentle.

EDSEL: (Wind noises.)

PORTIA: And the moon is full. (EDSEL glares at her. How the heck does she make moon noises?) What? (CROWD cheers.) Oh, and here comes our driver, Peggy Sue McAllister. (MUSIC CUE 11: “The 25 Race.” The CROWD cheers as PEGGY SUE goes over to MO, the GEARHEADS and the PREPPIES [except BIFFY], standing together in a single group. MUSIC UNDER dialogue.) JACK: Are you ready? PEGGY SUE: I’m nervous. 30 JACK: You’ll be great. VELOCITY: You got new valves and new plugs so it’s gonna read hotter than usual. Don’t sweat it. We had to monkey rig the gear shift so it’s gonna stick a little. Just drive hard and don’t ride the clutch. NIGEL: (To BIFFY and PEYTON like it’s the coolest thing ever.) I have no 35 idea what she just said. BOOSTER: PEGGY SUE, THE GEAR SHIFT STICKS A LITTLE. VELOCITY: She knows.

51 1 BOOSTER: YOU BET SHE GOES. LIKE A ROCKET. (The GROUP mimes talking amongst themselves. PEGGY SUE waves to the CROWD. CROWD cheers.) CROWD: (Sings.) 5 Here comes the coolest chick and the hottest driver in the town. I’m gonna make my pick. Yes, Peggy Sue‘ll shut’m down. That girl’s gonna show ’em just a-how it’s done.

She’s a demon on wheels in the quarter-mile run. Hey, hey, Peggy Sue! (MUSIC UNDER.) 10 BIFFY: (ENTERS dragging a shopping bag that must weigh 20 pounds.) Peggy Sue, I bought you more nail polish. PEGGY SUE: (Sagging under the weight.) Think you got enough? BIFFY: (Checking out PEGGY SUE’S hands.) I’ll get some more tomorrow. 15 PEGGY SUE: (Looking around.) Have you seen Betty Lou? JACK: Not tonight. PEGGY SUE: Excuse me. (Hands the bag to JACK and goes to PORTIA and EDSEL.) Have you seen Betty Lou? PORTIA: The driver is showing real concern for her sister, folks. 20 PEGGY SUE: Knock it off, Portia. PORTIA: Although she does seem a little cranky. PEGGY SUE: Portia, please. PORTIA: (Dropping the announcer stuff.) Sorry, Peggy Sue, I don’t know where she is. 25 PEGGY SUE: (To EDSEL.) How about you? EDSEL: Haven’t seen her. (PEGGY SUE, PORTIA, EDSEL, JACK and other GEARHEADS mime conversations. PEGGY SUE again waves to the CROWD. CROWD cheers. MUSIC UP.) CROWD: (Sings.) 30 It’s gonna be a thriller when the green ﬂ ag drops tonight! That Chevy rod’s a killer, man it’s lookin’ really out of sight! She’s gonna rev it, gonna gun it, gonna blow’m away.

Comin’ off the line like a beast of prey!

Hey! Hey, Peggy Sue! (MUSIC UNDER.)

35 PORTIA: And here comes the competition.

EDSEL: Boooooo. (DAYTONA ENTERS with BILL THE BUTCHER, who is dressed all in black, including a black helmet.)

PORTIA: The notorious Bill “The Butcher” Bailey. (The CROWD boos.) DAYTONA: (Indicates the CROWD.) Looks like you got the home ﬁ eld advantage.

52 1 PORTIA: The Butcher’s legend is unmatched. Sixty-seven wins and no losses. But this is his ﬁ rst race back after a short break of three years with time off for good behavior. DAYTONA: (To PEGGY SUE.) I heard you got a car running. 5 PEGGY SUE: A Chevy Skyliner. Just like the deal said. DAYTONA: You always were resourceful. We’ll make a good team. PEGGY SUE: Dream on. Where’s my sister? DAYTONA: Hey! Am I my brother’s cheater? PEGGY SUE: Keeper. Brother’s keeper. 10 DAYTONA: This brother is going to be your keeper… sister. (Walks away.) JACK: (Hands PEGGY SUE a helmet. PEGGY SUE and BUTCHER climb into their cars, and PEGGY SUE puts on her helmet.) He’s just trying to break your concentration. You can do this. I believe in you. 15 PORTIA: And here we go, folks, the big race is about to begin. They’re revving up their engines. (SOUND EFFECT: HOT RODS REVVING UP

ENGINES. During the following verse, MO steps forward with a green

ﬂ ag and raises it.)

CROWD: (Excited, sings.) Rev it up! Rev it up! Louder, louder!

20 Rev it up! Rev it up! Louder, louder! Man, that’s one big, bad, lean, mean machine! (SOUND EFFECT: HOT RODS REVVING UP ENGINES.) Rev it up! Rev it up! Louder, louder! Rev it up! Rev it up! Louder, louder! 25 It’s the most! It’s the coolest, it’s the hippest car I’ve ever seen! (MO drops the ﬂ ag and the race is on. SOUND EFFECT: ENGINES ROAR, TIRES SQUEAL as hot rods PEEL OUT. INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE. During this section, the cars inch forward in SLOW MOTION, pulling ahead of each other. ALL should 30 move in SLOW MOTION during the race. [See PRODUCTION NOTES for possible set ideas.]) Tach it up! Tach it up! Faster, faster! Tach it up! Tach it up! Faster, faster! Tach it up! Tach it up! Faster, faster! 35 Tach it up! Tach it up! Faster, faster! (SOUND EFFECT: SQUEALING BRAKES, cars skid to a halt. PEGGY SUE wins. Slow motion movements end. The CROWD cheers as the DRIVERS get out of

their cars.)

CROWD/GEARHEADS/PREPPIES: (Sing.) 40 Now, give a cheer for the driver! Peggy Sue has won the race! She really smoked him good by the disappointment on his face. The competition never really had a chance.

53 1 She beat’m by a full length at a glance. Hey! Hey! Peggy Sue! (Yippee and yahoo! Celebration all around. PEGGY SUE comes running back into JACK’S arms.) Celebrate! Celebrate! Party hardy! 5 Celebrate! Celebrate! Party hardy! We’ll be rockin’ and a-rollin’ and a-strollin’ at the hop tonight!

Celebrate! Celebrate! Party hardy! Celebrate! Celebrate! Party hardy! Gonna wop bop a loo mop bop until the mornin’ light! (MUSIC 10 OUT.) PORTIA: Seems everyone is caught up in the celebration. Peggy Sue McAllister is the new hot rod queen and—uh-oh. (BUTCHER storms over, and DAYTONA and the GREASERS approach him. They head toward PEGGY SUE. The GEARHEADS and the PREPPIES ﬂ ank

15 PEGGY SUE. Looks like there might be a rumble. Tensions ﬂ are. Then BUTCHER grabs PEGGY SUE’S hand and kisses it like a knight of old.) BUTCHER: Well done, m’lady. You have bested me and won victory with honor and valor. (Bows deeply then walks OFF.) 20 DAYTONA: (Follows, boiling mad, as do his GREASERS. Calls after BUTCHER.) That’s it? You’re letting her get away with this? I thought you were gonna pound her? What kind of Butcher are you? (EXITS with GREASERS in tow. EVERYONE is celebrating again.)

PEGGY SUE: I wish Betty Lou was here.

25 BETTY LOU: (ENTERS from the opposite side of the stage with her

hands behind her back.) I am.

PEGGY SUE: (Rushes and hugs BETTY LOU, but she doesn’t hug back.) You made it. Oh, you should’ve seen it! BETTY LOU: Sorry, we got here too late. 30 PEGGY SUE: We? SHERIFF: (ENTERS behind BETTY LOU.) We were a little busy. BETTY LOU: (Shows her hands now. She’s in cuffs.) I’m sorry, Peggy Sue. PEGGY SUE: You promised me. 35 BETTY LOU: And I kept it. I didn’t go to the sheriff. PEGGY SUE: Then how? SHERIFF: I had an anonymous tip. JENKINS: (ENTERS from the same direction.) I’m sorry, Peggy Sue. (Dum-dum-dum. This looks like defeat, and the moment hangs for a 40 heartbeat or two.) PEGGY SUE: She’s under arrest?

54 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS 1 SHERIFF: I said it before. Somebody has to pay for these street races. NIGEL: What street races? Did you actually witness a race here tonight? 5 SHERIFF: I arrived a little late. NIGEL: Do you have any legal proof an actual race took place?

SHERIFF: Proof?

NIGEL: Witnesses? Photographs?

SHERIFF: There are plenty of witnesses. 10 NIGEL: And indeed the young lady was, in fact, in your custody when these alleged races took place. SHERIFF: Listen, son— NIGEL: As you are her alibi, you have no legal grounds to hold her. SHERIFF: Somebody has to pay.

15 DAYTONA: (Backs ON the way he last exited, unaware of the SHERIFF because he’s still shouting after the BUTCHER.) You will never race in my town again! I own these streets. Anybody races in my town, they gotta go through me. I am the kingpin. The kingpin, you hear me. (Turns and sees the SHERIFF.) Oh, man. 20 SHERIFF: And that sounds like a confession. (DAYTONA turns to run, but the DEPUTY ENTERS and is there to catch him and slap on the cuffs.) DEPUTY: Did you know that confessions obtained through torture are 98.6% unreliable? 25 SHERIFF: Good to know, Deputy. DEPUTY: Thank you, sir. Come on, dirt bag. (Hustles DAYTONA OFF. Just before he vanishes…) I always wanted to say that.

SHERIFF: Looks like we caught the real bad guy.

NIGEL: Now you must release your wrongful arrest. (The SHERIFF 30 takes the cuffs off BETTY LOU.)

VELOCITY: (To NIGEL.) That was slicker than packing grease.

NIGEL: Just a little legal terpsichore.

VELOCITY: I have no idea what you just said. PEGGY SUE: (To the SHERIFF.) You’re letting her go? 35 SHERIFF: Not entirely. She needs a little looking after. But I think she’s in good hands. (Turns to JENKINS.) JENKINS: You’ll have to come work for me, young lady. BETTY LOU: Really? JENKINS: A good job is what you’re needing.

55 1 PEGGY SUE: Mr. Jenkins, you’d do that? JENKINS: With you going off to college, the store needs looking after. I thought… (PEGGY SUE gives him a huge hug. The SHERIFF pats her back and leaves with JENKINS. The CROWD is still anxious and 5 excited.) NIGEL: That car performed with alacrity. VELOCITY: It’s not hard, I could teach ya.

NIGEL: And perhaps I could teach you.

VELOCITY: I could show ya how to strip a cam and rebore the cylinder 10 head.

NIGEL: I could demonstrate the proper use of grammatical structure. VELOCITY: Mix the pro level of fuel to air ratio. NIGEL: Conjugate a verb. NIGEL/VELOCITY: Have no idea what you just said. (They laugh.) 15 JACK: (Pulls PEGGY SUE DOWN CENTER.) I was thinking, maybe I could check into a few colleges. PEGGY SUE: Really? I was thinking how great it would be to get back on the racetrack. (They kiss.) BETTY LOU: Well I think we’ve all learned a very valuable lesson. I 20 think the moral here is— HI-TONE: Hey, everybody. Let’s party! EVERYONE: Yeah! (BLACKOUT.) END OF MUSICAL MUSIC CUE 11a: “Curtain Call—Checkered Flag.” ENSEMBLE ENTERS for bows. 25 ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) We gotta make it to the ﬁ nish line. ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Doo-wop!

ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) A little luck and we’ll be doin’ ﬁ ne.

ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Doo-wop! ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) 30 We’ll be cruisin’ down the Main Street drag. ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Doo-wop! ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) We gotta make it to the checkered ﬂ ag!

ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Ah! (Under next line.)

ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) 35 We’ve got dreams and we’ve got seeds to sow. ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Shoo-bee doo-wop! Shoo-bee, doo-bee doo-wop! Ah! (Under next line.)

56 1 ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) Gotta crank it up and get that get-up-’n’-go! ENSEMBLE TWO: (Speaks.) Hey, daddy-o, whadaya know? (Sings.) Ba doo bop! 5 ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) We’re workin’ hard both night and day. ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Ba doo bop! ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) We wouldn’t have it any other way.

ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Ba doo bop! ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) There’ll come a time,

10 ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Ba doo bop! ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) We’re gonna say, ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Ba doo bop! ENSEMBLE ONE: (Sings.) “Stick it to the competition, ALL: (Sing.) Hey, we got the checkered ﬂ ag!” 15 ENSEMBLE TWO: (Sings.) Bop! Bop! Bop! Bop! ALL: (Sing.) Doo-wop bop bop bop bop! Doo-wop bop bop bop bop! Doo-wop!

57 PRODUCTION NOTES PROPERTIES

ONSTAGE, JENKIN’S MUSIC STORE scenes: Counter, (optional) record player, rotary phone, table, bin of 45s

ONSTAGE, MALT SHOP scenes: Counter, tables, chairs, jukebox (cardboard cutout is ﬁ ne). Malt glasses, straws, napkins, spoons, etc. as needed for each particular scene, ONSTAGE, MO’S GARAGE scenes: Sign, oil drum BROUGHT ON, Prologue: Steering wheel, rearview mirror with furry dice, two ﬂ ashlights (ENSEMBLE) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene Two: Book, coin, wad of cash (DAYTONA) Wad of cash (CASTROL) Pink slip (BETTY LOU) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene Four: Combs (DAYTONA, GREASERS) BROUGHT ON, ACT ONE, Scene Five: Shopping bag with new shoes, earrings and purse (BIFFY) ONSTAGE, ACT TWO, Scene Two: Car shape under tarp BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Two:

Spare tire (VELOCITY) Tools (JACK) BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Four: Stopwatch (MO) ONSTAGE, ACT TWO, Scene Five: Trashcan, “BACKROOM ALLEY” street sign BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Five: Stopwatch (PENZ) BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Six: Crowbars, tire irons (GREASERS) ONSTAGE, ACT TWO, Scene Eight: Mangled shape under tarp BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Ten: 45 record (HI-TONE) Two wads of cotton [in his ears], pill bottle (JENKINS) ONSTAGE, ACT TWO, Scene Eleven: Street sign, two hot rods [see CAR EFFECTS below] BROUGHT ON, ACT TWO, Scene Eleven: Shopping bag seemingly ﬁ lled with bottles of nail polish (BIFFY) Helmet (JACK) Green ﬂ ag (MO) Handcuffs (BETTY LOU, DEPUTY)

58 PHOTOCOPYING THIS SCRIPT BREAKS FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAWS SOUND EFFECTS Hot rod starting, engine revving, brakes squealing, hot rod racing off, tires squealing, pounding on metal, glass shattering, roaring engine. If you use the production/rehearsal CD set, the sound effects are built into the songs. If you use live music, you’ll need to create your own car sound effects.

LIGHTING EFFECTS Optional ﬂ ashing lights, roaming spotlight or strobe lights for the PROLOGUE.

COSTUMES Obviously, 1950s style clothing for everybody. PREPPIES are dressed as squeaky-clean kids. The boys wear cardigan sweaters and the girls wear poodle skirts. They carry school books when appropriate, possibly in book bags. JACK and the GEARHEADS wear grease-stained coveralls.

PEGGY SUE is dressed like the PREPPIES when she is with them or working in the record shop. When she is with the GEARHEADS and

when she races, she wears clean coveralls. She wears a watch.

BILL THE BUTCHER should be dressed entirely in black, including a

helmet.

ABOUT THE BACKUP SINGERS

For the song “Checkered Flag,” a chorus of girls or mixed voices can

be used as backup singers for the other three groups. Three to six

vocalists are ideal, but more could be added if desired. They can move about the stage or be in one of several areas—on a platform UP CENTER above the action, on the ﬂ oor in front of CENTER STAGE or in a center or side aisle of the theater.

CAR EFFECTS During the opening number, the ENSEMBLE creates a car (or cars) with minimal items. The effect should be as wild as possible and mimic a car “blasting off into the past.” In ACT TWO, Scene Two, there is a shape of a car under a tarp. Most likely, you can simply cover one of the hot rods you’ll be using in the last scene of the musical (see below). If that doesn’t work, you can create a car outline out of cardboard or wood. In ACT TWO, Scene Eight, there is again a shape under a tarp. However this time it is a mangled, indistinguishable large shape.

59 So what about the big race in ACT TWO, Scene Eleven? Building the two hot rods required for this scene can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Since you obviously can’t have real hot rods on stage, smaller versions will have to be constructed. First and foremost, don’t be intimidated by this task. There are many simple, fun and creative ways by which to accomplish the building of a great looking (or funny looking) hot rod. Following are a list of suggestions that will help in this process.

1. The most obvious solution is to use cardboard to build the hot rods. A two-dimensional cardboard cutout can be held up with handles. For a three dimensional effect, a large decorated cardboard box can be worn around the waist, held up with straps that go over the shoulders. There are several web sites that give directions on how to build a cardboard hot rod. One such site is http://www. ehow.com/how_2124372_make-car-from-cardboard-box.html. There is another site that shows how to make a hot rod race car costume that ﬁ ts over the body: http://www.coolest- homemade-costumes.com/coolest-hot-rod-race-car-costume- 7.html. If these links no longer work, there are undoubtedly plenty of other internet sources if you enter something like “hot rod car costume” into your search engine.

2. You can make this an interactive project with a school shop teacher or art teacher and get tons of free show publicity to boot! Have one or more of their classes divide into groups

and build as many colorful cardboard hot rods as desired. The cars could be displayed at the school several days before your production, and the whole student body could vote on their favorite two cars which would then be used in your production of Hot Rod. Since only two hot rods are needed for the actual production race scene, the rest of the cars could be displayed as props in the theater lobby or around the stage during the performances. Or you can use different cars for each performance of your show. 3. Check with your local Soapbox Derby Association and see if they would loan the school a couple of cars. Students at the school may also own soapbox derby cars or go-carts you could borrow. 4. If all else fails, the hot rods can simply be rolling ofﬁ ce chairs or wagons, again perhaps with a two dimensional cardboard cutout. The steering wheels could also be made of cardboard

60 or for a more realistic effect, steering wheels can be purchased very inexpensively at your local auto junkyard.

5. If you’re especially pinched for time, the entire race can be staged OFFSTAGE, with everybody looking off into the wings to “watch” the action. Whatever approach you use, have fun with it and remember that your audience will accept whatever you present as hot rods!