EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE—DAY
Jim is standing at the INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE with his duffel bag and guitar case. He has his thumb out. A fancy 1972 car, driven by a short-haired, mustached white man, pulls up beside Jim. CAR DRIVER, 27, is dressed in a suit and tie.
CAR DRIVER: I’m heading all the way to New York City. Need a ride?
JIM: That’ll help a lot.
CAR DRIVER: You can put your bag and guitar on the back seat.
Car Driver unlocks the passenger door. Jim puts guitar case and duffel bag on back seat and sits in front passenger seat.
INT. CAR—DAY
The car moves along Interstate Highway as Car Driver and Jim converse.
CAR DRIVER: Where you heading to?
JIM: East. To Philadelphia.
CAR DRIVER: Why Philadelphia?
JIM: It’s a big city. There might be more work there than in Ann Arbor…Are you from New York City?
CAR DRIVER: No. I actually live in Providence now. But I have to go to some bull-shit meetings in New York City for a few days.
Car Driver hands Jim book of matches and a joint.
CAR DRIVER (CONT’D): Let’s smoke a joint.
INT. CAR—NIGHT
Car Driver and Jim are both smiling and stoned. CAR DRIVER shares joint with Jim.
CAR DRIVER: I bet you’d never guess what I do for a living.
Jim smiles.
JIM: I imagine you’re some kind of a traveling salesman.
Car Driver laughs.
CAR DRIVER: No. I’m not a traveling salesman…I’m an FBI agent.
Jim starts coughing. Then he starts to laugh.
JIM: An FBI agent? You’re kidding!
Both the Car Driver and Jim giggle.
CAR DRIVER: No, it’s true. I thought you’d get a kick out of finding out that you’ve been sharing a joint with an FBI agent.
JIM: How did you end up working for the FBI? Aren’t they a little too straight for you?
CAR DRIVER: They paid my tuition to go to Harvard. So I’m obligated to work for them for five years after graduation.
JIM: Like an indentured servant, huh?
CAR DRIVER: That’s right. So I’m counting the days until I can quit.
JIM: What kind of things do they have you do?
CAR DRIVER: They use me around college campuses mostly. To bust student drug dealers. I just finished busting the student who was the big dealer in the dorms at Michigan State in Lansing. But now the Bureau wants me to hunt for the Weather fugitives. That’s why I have to go to these bull-shit meetings in New York City.
Jim smiles.
JIM: Well, I imagine you can have more fun in New York City at night than in Lansing, Michigan, at least.
CAR DRIVER: Yeah. I guess that’s one way of looking at it. But you don’t get as much free pot when you’re assigned to political cases as you do when you’re busting drug dealers.
EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SERVICE LANE—DAY
It’s shortly after sunrise. Sign above the service lane has one arrow pointing left under the words: “To New York City.” Another arrow on the sign points under the words: “To Philadelphia.” Jim gets out of the car, carrying his guitar case and duffel bag, and waves goodbye. Car Driver waves back and drives his car towards the highway lane that leads to New York City. Jim takes a deep breath.
EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE—DAY
It’s later in the morning. Jim is standing at the Interstate Highway Entrance, in front of a sign which says “To New York City,” his finger out. A used 1968 Volkswagen car, with two women in it, stops. The VOLKSWAGEN PASSENGER, 19, smiles at Jim.
VOLKSWAGEN PASSENGER: How far do you need to go?
JIM: New York City.
The Volkswagen Passenger looks at the VOLKSWAGEN DRIVER, 20, who nods her head.
VOLKSWAGEN PASSENGER: Hop in!
She opens the passenger door and gets out. Jim puts his guitar case and duffel bag in the back seat and sits there. The Volkswagen Passenger gets back into the car and shuts the door.
INT. VOLKSWAGEN CAR—DAY
JIM: Where in New York City do you live?
VOLKSWAGEN PASSENGER: On the Upper West Side. We both go to Barnard.
Jim laughs.
JIM: I know some people who went to Barnard. I used to go to Columbia.
Volkswagen Passenger laughs.
VOLKSWAGEN PASSENGER: You went to Columbia?
JIM: Yeah. In the late Sixties I did. But it seems like that was a very long time ago. Because now we’ve all become a generation of freaks. And a generation of fugitives from the Death Culture. That’s why we’re called “The Fugitive Generation.”
EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY—DAY
The Volkswagen car continues moving toward Manhattan.
FADE OUT:
THE END
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Fugitive Generation (xxiv)
INT. WRITE-ON OFFICE—DAY
Write-On Supervisor sits behind desk across from Jim.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: I’m glad you got paid for that dissertation. ‘Cause we decided to shut down our office here. There’s not enough business for us in Ann Arbor year-round to compare to what we earn from the Harvard students in Cambridge.
JIM: That’s too bad. I don’t know what I’ll do to get money here now.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: Move out of Ann Arbor. Go to the West Coast. Or go to the East Coast. Go to Cambridge. The auto plants ain’t hiring in Michigan anymore. So you sure ain’t gonna find work in Michigan these days.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Jim is reading want ad section of newspaper, while sitting on the mattress. There’s a knock on the door. Jim stands up and walks toward door.
JIM: Who is it?
LANDLORD (V.O.): It’s the landlord.
Jim opens door. Landlord stands opposite Jim.
LANDLORD (CONT’D): Do you have the rent for August? This is the second month in a row that you’ve been late on the rent.
JIM: I’m having trouble coming up with it this month.
LANDLORD: Well, if you don’t get it to me by August 31, I want you out of the room by September 1. Understand?
JIM: I’ll do my best.
INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT—DAY
Clean-shaven FAST FOOD RESTAURANT MANAGER looks over Jim’s application inside restaurant, as Jim stands nearby. Then he glances at Jim and shakes his head.
INT. GROCERY STORY—DAY
GROCERY STORE MANAGER shakes his head at Jim.
INT. BOOKSTORE—DAY
BOOKSTORE MANAGER shakes his head at Jim.
EXT. CAMPUS DIAG AREA—DAY
Jim walks across campus.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Jim looks at a mirror. Then he starts to cut and shave off his beard. He also cuts off his long hair. He now looks more like the high school graduation picture of the clean-shaven Greenberg that Kelly showed Mr. & Mrs. Bernstein in Bronx.
INT. OFFICE TEMP OFFICE—DAY
Well-dressed women, each between 20 and 24 years of age, are sitting in the office. Clean-shaven and short-haired Jim is now wearing a sport jacket, tie and dress shirt. He hands an application to OFFICE TEMP RECEPTIONIST. She looks over the application. Then she shakes her head and Jim leaves the office.
INT. HALLWAY OFFICE—DAY
Still dressed-up, Jim stands in front of door marked “LIBRARY PERSONNEL OFFICE.”
INT. LIBRARY PERSONNEL OFFICE—DAY
LIBRARY PERSONNEL INTERVIEWER looks at Jim’s application. Then she shakes her head.
INT. HALLWAY—DAY
Jim stands in front of door marked “University of Michigan Personnel.”
INT. INTERVIEWER’S OFFICE—DAY
U. OF MICHIGAN INTERVIEWER, 28, is white woman who wears dress. She looks at Jim’s application, while sitting behind her desk.
U. OF MICHIGAN INTERVIEWER: We have a dormitory receptionist position that you might be qualified for on our North Campus. Have you ever done that kind of work before?
JIM: (quickly makes up cover story) The clerk-typist job I had at Kent State for two years involved a few hours of receptionist work each day. I had to meet and greet the students who were being surveyed by the sociology department. And keep track of their completed questionnaires.
U. OF MICHIGAN INTERVIEWER: I see. Would you be able to go up to the North Campus this afternoon and speak with Mr. Landry about the job?
JIM: (smiles) Yes, I would.
U. of Michigan Interviewer writes some information on a piece of paper and hands it to Jim.
INT. DORMITORY OFFICE—DAY
MR. LANDRY, 48, is a white man who wears a suit and tie. He sits behind desk opposite Jim.
MR. LANDRY: Well, I’d love to hire you for the position. But we’re under intense pressure to hire “a minority person.”
JIM: Oh. The personnel office didn’t mention that. If it had, I wouldn’t have bothered coming to speak with you.
EXT. ANN ARBOR SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING—DAY
Jim is again dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. His hair is longer and he looks more unshaven. Jim enters bank.
INT. ANN ARBOR SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING—DAY
Jim hands his bankbook to TELLER, 22, a well-dressed white woman.
JIM: I’d like to close my bank account now.
Teller looks at the bankbook, hands Jim paper to sign and buts bankbook through machine. She counts out $59.30 in bills and change and hands money and voided bankbook to Jim.
TELLER: Have a good day!
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE JIM’S ROOM
While carrying his duffel bag and guitar case, Jim bumps into Joey, as Joey is leaving bathroom. Joey glances at Jim and smiles.
JOEY: Time to move on, huh?
JIM: Yeah. It’s too hard to find work in Ann Arbor these days.
JOEY: I imagine it would be for somebody like you. The straights don’t want to hire anymore freaks in Ann Arbor. It’s a good thing for me that Ann Arbor still has a lot of students with rich parents. Otherwise I wouldn’t have much of a market around here anymore…Where you heading to now?
JIM: The West Coast. California, I hope.
JOEY: That’s a good scene to go to. If things hadn’t worked out for me here, I might have ended up in California myself.
JIM: Well, I gotta get going now, since it’s a long hitch to the West Coast. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again someday in California.
JOEY: (smiles) Who knows?
Jim glances at Joey.
JIM: It’s been good knowing you, brother.
Jim then pats Joey on the shoulder and walks toward stairs.
JOEY: Keep the faith, brother!
Write-On Supervisor sits behind desk across from Jim.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: I’m glad you got paid for that dissertation. ‘Cause we decided to shut down our office here. There’s not enough business for us in Ann Arbor year-round to compare to what we earn from the Harvard students in Cambridge.
JIM: That’s too bad. I don’t know what I’ll do to get money here now.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: Move out of Ann Arbor. Go to the West Coast. Or go to the East Coast. Go to Cambridge. The auto plants ain’t hiring in Michigan anymore. So you sure ain’t gonna find work in Michigan these days.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Jim is reading want ad section of newspaper, while sitting on the mattress. There’s a knock on the door. Jim stands up and walks toward door.
JIM: Who is it?
LANDLORD (V.O.): It’s the landlord.
Jim opens door. Landlord stands opposite Jim.
LANDLORD (CONT’D): Do you have the rent for August? This is the second month in a row that you’ve been late on the rent.
JIM: I’m having trouble coming up with it this month.
LANDLORD: Well, if you don’t get it to me by August 31, I want you out of the room by September 1. Understand?
JIM: I’ll do my best.
INT. FAST FOOD RESTAURANT—DAY
Clean-shaven FAST FOOD RESTAURANT MANAGER looks over Jim’s application inside restaurant, as Jim stands nearby. Then he glances at Jim and shakes his head.
INT. GROCERY STORY—DAY
GROCERY STORE MANAGER shakes his head at Jim.
INT. BOOKSTORE—DAY
BOOKSTORE MANAGER shakes his head at Jim.
EXT. CAMPUS DIAG AREA—DAY
Jim walks across campus.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Jim looks at a mirror. Then he starts to cut and shave off his beard. He also cuts off his long hair. He now looks more like the high school graduation picture of the clean-shaven Greenberg that Kelly showed Mr. & Mrs. Bernstein in Bronx.
INT. OFFICE TEMP OFFICE—DAY
Well-dressed women, each between 20 and 24 years of age, are sitting in the office. Clean-shaven and short-haired Jim is now wearing a sport jacket, tie and dress shirt. He hands an application to OFFICE TEMP RECEPTIONIST. She looks over the application. Then she shakes her head and Jim leaves the office.
INT. HALLWAY OFFICE—DAY
Still dressed-up, Jim stands in front of door marked “LIBRARY PERSONNEL OFFICE.”
INT. LIBRARY PERSONNEL OFFICE—DAY
LIBRARY PERSONNEL INTERVIEWER looks at Jim’s application. Then she shakes her head.
INT. HALLWAY—DAY
Jim stands in front of door marked “University of Michigan Personnel.”
INT. INTERVIEWER’S OFFICE—DAY
U. OF MICHIGAN INTERVIEWER, 28, is white woman who wears dress. She looks at Jim’s application, while sitting behind her desk.
U. OF MICHIGAN INTERVIEWER: We have a dormitory receptionist position that you might be qualified for on our North Campus. Have you ever done that kind of work before?
JIM: (quickly makes up cover story) The clerk-typist job I had at Kent State for two years involved a few hours of receptionist work each day. I had to meet and greet the students who were being surveyed by the sociology department. And keep track of their completed questionnaires.
U. OF MICHIGAN INTERVIEWER: I see. Would you be able to go up to the North Campus this afternoon and speak with Mr. Landry about the job?
JIM: (smiles) Yes, I would.
U. of Michigan Interviewer writes some information on a piece of paper and hands it to Jim.
INT. DORMITORY OFFICE—DAY
MR. LANDRY, 48, is a white man who wears a suit and tie. He sits behind desk opposite Jim.
MR. LANDRY: Well, I’d love to hire you for the position. But we’re under intense pressure to hire “a minority person.”
JIM: Oh. The personnel office didn’t mention that. If it had, I wouldn’t have bothered coming to speak with you.
EXT. ANN ARBOR SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING—DAY
Jim is again dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. His hair is longer and he looks more unshaven. Jim enters bank.
INT. ANN ARBOR SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING—DAY
Jim hands his bankbook to TELLER, 22, a well-dressed white woman.
JIM: I’d like to close my bank account now.
Teller looks at the bankbook, hands Jim paper to sign and buts bankbook through machine. She counts out $59.30 in bills and change and hands money and voided bankbook to Jim.
TELLER: Have a good day!
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE JIM’S ROOM
While carrying his duffel bag and guitar case, Jim bumps into Joey, as Joey is leaving bathroom. Joey glances at Jim and smiles.
JOEY: Time to move on, huh?
JIM: Yeah. It’s too hard to find work in Ann Arbor these days.
JOEY: I imagine it would be for somebody like you. The straights don’t want to hire anymore freaks in Ann Arbor. It’s a good thing for me that Ann Arbor still has a lot of students with rich parents. Otherwise I wouldn’t have much of a market around here anymore…Where you heading to now?
JIM: The West Coast. California, I hope.
JOEY: That’s a good scene to go to. If things hadn’t worked out for me here, I might have ended up in California myself.
JIM: Well, I gotta get going now, since it’s a long hitch to the West Coast. Maybe we’ll bump into each other again someday in California.
JOEY: (smiles) Who knows?
Jim glances at Joey.
JIM: It’s been good knowing you, brother.
Jim then pats Joey on the shoulder and walks toward stairs.
JOEY: Keep the faith, brother!
The Fugitive Generation (xxiii)
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
Marlene is sitting stretched out on the mattress on the floor, with her dress on, but her shoes off. Jim is sitting on the floor of the room, shoes off, holding his guitar and glancing at a piece of paper in front of him.
JIM: It’s called “Marlene’s Song.”
Jim sings in a very tender style.
JIM (CONT’D): (sings)
Oh, you’ve won my heart
With your softness
Kind, gentle, blond-haired
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene,
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene.
It’s been so long
Since I felt love
Compassionate, soulful
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene.
I’m a working-class lover
You’re the fairest I see
I got sisters and brothers
You’re the one most like me.
There’s a sudden sound of a guitar string breaking.
JIM (CONT’D): Shit! A guitar string broke.
Jim continues singing and attempting to continue accompany himself on the guitar, despite the broken string. The guitar accompaniment sounds more off-key and less harmonious with his singing. Marlene looks touched. Jim sings softer, almost in a whisper. But in an intense way.
JIM (CONT’D): (sings)
Hearing your voice
Feeling you close
Makes me just think of
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene,
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene.
Watching you shine
Moves me inside
Wanting to just kiss
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene,
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene…
During the last verse, Marlene has moved closer to Jim. As he finishes the verse, she interrupts his singing by starting to kiss him passionately at the same time she takes his guitar out of his hand. Jim responds to her kisses and hugging. The alarm clock on the floor indicates it is 9 o’clock.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
The alarm clock indicates it is 1 o’clock. Both undressed now, Marlene and Jim are sleeping together on the mattress.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
The alarm clock indicates it’s 8:30. Marlene now has all her clothes back on and is sitting on the front of the mattress. Jim is still half-asleep on the mattress, when he reaches over for Marlene. Not feeling her next to him, Jim opens up his eyes.
JIM: Dressed already, Marlene? What time is it?
Marlene looks at the clock.
MARLENE: It’s 8:30. I have to pack today.
JIM: Do you want me to help you pack?
Jim stands up and quickly gets dressed.
MARLENE: No. You don’t have to.
Jim sits down next to Marlene on the mattress.
JIM: How about some breakfast together before you pack?
MARLENE: No. I really have to get going, Jim.
JIM: Oh. I hope you enjoyed our little trip last night.
MARLENE: It was a great trip, Jim…But you shouldn’t have fallen in love with me.
JIM: Why not? It was obviously destiny that brought us together. And I’m still madly in love with you, Marlene.
MARLENE: That’s the point. You must think that I’m heartless. But I’m not sure it could work out between us in the long run. I still have a year left of school. I have to think about this over the summer. It’s too sudden for me.
JIM: (tenderly) I don’t think you’re heartless, honey...You’re probably right. You’ll end up suffering if you get more involved with me. Once I get paid off for the dissertation, I can’t see any way I can make money in Ann Arbor. Since it looks like the ghostwriting place is going out of business. So I’ll probably be gone anyway when you get back in the fall.
MARLENE: It can’t be that bad. I’m sure you’ll find something else.
JIM: I don’t know, Marlene. Nobody wants my folk songs. Nobody pays me or you for being anti-war activists. And the Death Culture won’t give me any money, unless I agree to be a 9-to-5 slave.
MARLENE: Something’s bound to turn up somewhere.
JIM: But not in Ann Arbor. I don’t mind living at a subsistence level in Ann Arbor if I have absolute freedom and can work with you to stop the War. But the Death Culture wants somebody like me dead. Because I have moral objections to fitting into its imperialist system like a good robot. I can’t see how I can survive in the long-run, unless there’s a Revolution.
MARLENE: I wish I knew what the answer was for you, Jim. But I don’t even know what’s going to happen to me once I’m out of school. I have no answers for myself yet, other than to work to stop the War.
JIM: Well, enough of this down talk, Marlene. Maybe something will work out. You gave me new hope this spring and you’ve been a great inspiration for me this spring. So even if I’m not here in Ann Arbor when you get back in the fall, I’ll always remember you.
MARLENE: Don’t lose heart, Jim. I’m sure something will come up in Ann Arbor for you.
Marlene and Jim each stand up.
JIM: Well, I guess it’s time to say goodbye, Marlene.
Jim kisses Marlene and he begins to cry for a few seconds.
JIM (CONT’D): I’m sorry for getting emotional about you leaving, Marlene…It must be the after-effects of the mescaline trip.
Marlene holds Jim for a second and kisses him goodbye. Then she pulls back from him.
MARLENE: Until the fall, Jim!
JIM: Have a great time at the summer camp, Marlene!
Marlene walks out of the room and closes the door. Jim starts to weep.
INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING LOBBY—NIGHT
Jim is standing in the lobby with a large manila envelope in his hand. A woman PhD CANDIDATE, 43, wearing slacks and blouse, approaches him.
PhD CANDIDATE: Are you Jim Wilson?
JIM: (smiles) Yes I am.
PhD CANDIDATE: Let’s go up to my room and talk. I’m staying for the night in the Student Union building.
JIM: Here? I didn’t know they had hotel rooms in the Student Union Building.
PhD CANDIDATE: They have a floor of them. Follow me.
Jim follows PhD Candidate to a stairway in lobby.
INT. STUDENT UNION HOTEL ROOM—NIGHT
PhD Candidate is looking at a thick manuscript.
PhD CANDIDATE: It looks fine to me. It looks like you did a good job.
JIM: I thought you’d like it.
PhD Candidate writes out check and hands it to Jim.
PhD CANIDATE: I’ve very grateful to you. You saved me a lot of time.
Jim looks over the check.
JIM: It was a pleasure doing business with you.
Marlene is sitting stretched out on the mattress on the floor, with her dress on, but her shoes off. Jim is sitting on the floor of the room, shoes off, holding his guitar and glancing at a piece of paper in front of him.
JIM: It’s called “Marlene’s Song.”
Jim sings in a very tender style.
JIM (CONT’D): (sings)
Oh, you’ve won my heart
With your softness
Kind, gentle, blond-haired
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene,
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene.
It’s been so long
Since I felt love
Compassionate, soulful
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene.
I’m a working-class lover
You’re the fairest I see
I got sisters and brothers
You’re the one most like me.
There’s a sudden sound of a guitar string breaking.
JIM (CONT’D): Shit! A guitar string broke.
Jim continues singing and attempting to continue accompany himself on the guitar, despite the broken string. The guitar accompaniment sounds more off-key and less harmonious with his singing. Marlene looks touched. Jim sings softer, almost in a whisper. But in an intense way.
JIM (CONT’D): (sings)
Hearing your voice
Feeling you close
Makes me just think of
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene,
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene.
Watching you shine
Moves me inside
Wanting to just kiss
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene, Marlene,
Marlene, Marlene, Marlene…
During the last verse, Marlene has moved closer to Jim. As he finishes the verse, she interrupts his singing by starting to kiss him passionately at the same time she takes his guitar out of his hand. Jim responds to her kisses and hugging. The alarm clock on the floor indicates it is 9 o’clock.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
The alarm clock indicates it is 1 o’clock. Both undressed now, Marlene and Jim are sleeping together on the mattress.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
The alarm clock indicates it’s 8:30. Marlene now has all her clothes back on and is sitting on the front of the mattress. Jim is still half-asleep on the mattress, when he reaches over for Marlene. Not feeling her next to him, Jim opens up his eyes.
JIM: Dressed already, Marlene? What time is it?
Marlene looks at the clock.
MARLENE: It’s 8:30. I have to pack today.
JIM: Do you want me to help you pack?
Jim stands up and quickly gets dressed.
MARLENE: No. You don’t have to.
Jim sits down next to Marlene on the mattress.
JIM: How about some breakfast together before you pack?
MARLENE: No. I really have to get going, Jim.
JIM: Oh. I hope you enjoyed our little trip last night.
MARLENE: It was a great trip, Jim…But you shouldn’t have fallen in love with me.
JIM: Why not? It was obviously destiny that brought us together. And I’m still madly in love with you, Marlene.
MARLENE: That’s the point. You must think that I’m heartless. But I’m not sure it could work out between us in the long run. I still have a year left of school. I have to think about this over the summer. It’s too sudden for me.
JIM: (tenderly) I don’t think you’re heartless, honey...You’re probably right. You’ll end up suffering if you get more involved with me. Once I get paid off for the dissertation, I can’t see any way I can make money in Ann Arbor. Since it looks like the ghostwriting place is going out of business. So I’ll probably be gone anyway when you get back in the fall.
MARLENE: It can’t be that bad. I’m sure you’ll find something else.
JIM: I don’t know, Marlene. Nobody wants my folk songs. Nobody pays me or you for being anti-war activists. And the Death Culture won’t give me any money, unless I agree to be a 9-to-5 slave.
MARLENE: Something’s bound to turn up somewhere.
JIM: But not in Ann Arbor. I don’t mind living at a subsistence level in Ann Arbor if I have absolute freedom and can work with you to stop the War. But the Death Culture wants somebody like me dead. Because I have moral objections to fitting into its imperialist system like a good robot. I can’t see how I can survive in the long-run, unless there’s a Revolution.
MARLENE: I wish I knew what the answer was for you, Jim. But I don’t even know what’s going to happen to me once I’m out of school. I have no answers for myself yet, other than to work to stop the War.
JIM: Well, enough of this down talk, Marlene. Maybe something will work out. You gave me new hope this spring and you’ve been a great inspiration for me this spring. So even if I’m not here in Ann Arbor when you get back in the fall, I’ll always remember you.
MARLENE: Don’t lose heart, Jim. I’m sure something will come up in Ann Arbor for you.
Marlene and Jim each stand up.
JIM: Well, I guess it’s time to say goodbye, Marlene.
Jim kisses Marlene and he begins to cry for a few seconds.
JIM (CONT’D): I’m sorry for getting emotional about you leaving, Marlene…It must be the after-effects of the mescaline trip.
Marlene holds Jim for a second and kisses him goodbye. Then she pulls back from him.
MARLENE: Until the fall, Jim!
JIM: Have a great time at the summer camp, Marlene!
Marlene walks out of the room and closes the door. Jim starts to weep.
INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING LOBBY—NIGHT
Jim is standing in the lobby with a large manila envelope in his hand. A woman PhD CANDIDATE, 43, wearing slacks and blouse, approaches him.
PhD CANDIDATE: Are you Jim Wilson?
JIM: (smiles) Yes I am.
PhD CANDIDATE: Let’s go up to my room and talk. I’m staying for the night in the Student Union building.
JIM: Here? I didn’t know they had hotel rooms in the Student Union Building.
PhD CANDIDATE: They have a floor of them. Follow me.
Jim follows PhD Candidate to a stairway in lobby.
INT. STUDENT UNION HOTEL ROOM—NIGHT
PhD Candidate is looking at a thick manuscript.
PhD CANDIDATE: It looks fine to me. It looks like you did a good job.
JIM: I thought you’d like it.
PhD Candidate writes out check and hands it to Jim.
PhD CANIDATE: I’ve very grateful to you. You saved me a lot of time.
Jim looks over the check.
JIM: It was a pleasure doing business with you.
The Fugitive Generation (xxii)
INT. HALL OUTSIDE JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Joey and Jim meet in hall.
JOEY: What’s happening, brother?
JIM: I still have spring fever.
JOEY: Yeah, I know what you mean. You might like to do some of this with a friend.
Joey hands Jim four tabs of mescaline.
JIM: What is it?
JOEY: Just some extra mescaline I’m giving away for free.
JIM: You sure you don’t want me to pay you something?
JOEY: (smiles) I made a lot of bread this spring. Especially at that big anti-war demo. I don’t need any of your money. Catch you later!
Joey heads downstairs. Jim returns to his room.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Jim puts three of the tabs in his guitar case. He swallows the fourth tab and leaves his room.
EXT. CAMPUS AREA—DAY
Jim retraces his first walk of the winter around the campus with a big smile on his face. Every twenty yards some freak student says “hi” to him and smiles. Jim walks through the campus, past the Diag political rallying space in front of the graduate library, smiling and saying “hi” to numerous smiling freak students.
EXT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING—DAY
Marlene is walking towards Downtown Ann Arbor. Jim is walking in opposite direction. They notice each other.
JIM: Marlene! You’re just the person I was hoping to bump into. I tried calling you a few times. But nobody answered.
MARLENE: I’ve been staying over at Roger’s a lot.
JIM: Oh…Are you staying around Ann Arbor this summer?
MARLENE: No. I got a job as a camp counselor in Vermont. I need to earn money this summer.
JIM: When are you leaving town?
MARLENE: Next week. First I’ll stay with my parents for a few weeks. Then I go off to Vermont the third week in June.
JIM: I’ll really miss you. How about going out together Saturday night, since we won’t be seeing each other for awhile?
MARLENE: Aren’t you seeing Rachel anymore?
JIM: She’s down in Columbus with her parents for the summer. So we’re not really involved with each other anymore.
MARLENE: Oh. I didn’t know she was away for the summer already.
JIM: Can I meet you at your house? Maybe at about seven? We can drop some mescaline I just got. And go out for dinner. And hang out in my room a little. (smiles) A little going away party for you.
MARLENE: (smiles) That sounds like it might be fun. I’ll see you Saturday night at seven, then.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE MARLENE’S APARTMENT—NIGHT
Jim rings bell. Door slowly opens. Jim looks surprised for an instant. Then he smiles. Marlene is standing in front of him in low-cut dress, looking very glamorous in a more traditional way. Marlene smiles, while Jim quickly glances at her.
MARLENE: HI, Jim!
JIM: Wow! You look as beautiful in a dress as you do in khaki pants.
MARLENE: Yeah. That’s why they elected me Queen of the Prom in high school. Come on in.
Jim walks into the apartment. Marlene follows him, closing the door behind her.
INT. MARLENE’S APARTMENT—NIGHT
Marlene’s studio apartment is sparsely furnished. A lot of books are on shelves. A dinette table is in center of apartment and a single bed is in corner. On the wall are a lot of anti-war posters with pictures of Indochinese people.
Jim takes two tabs from his pocket.
JIM: Here’s the mescaline I said I’d bring. I’ve been wanting to trip with you ever since we met, Marlene.
Jim hands a tab to Marlene, as she smiles.
MARLENE: I figured you did.
Marlene goes to the kitchenette sink and fills up a glass of water. She puts the mescaline tab in her mouth and takes a sip from the glass. Marlene then hands the glass to Jim, who sips from it as he swallows his tab.
MARLENE (CONT’D): I’m glad I’m seeing you before I leave Ann Arbor.
JIM: Are you ready for dinner yet?
MARLENE: I’m ready if you are.
Marlene opens the door and turns off the lights, as she and Jim leave her apartment.
EXT. CAMPUS AREA STREET—NIGHT
Marlene and Jim walk side by side, talking to each other in an animated way and laughing a lot. Every ten yards, some student who knows Marlene waves to her and smiles, and Marlene waves and smiles back. Eventually, Marlene and Jim reach a restaurant next to a movie theatre. They enter the restaurant.
INT. RESTAURANT—NIGHT
The mescaline is beginning to have some effect. Marlene and Jim’s eyes look more stoned, as they each giggle more while finishing desert.
JIM: I’m really starting to feel it now, Marlene. How about going back to my room and I’ll play you some of my songs on my guitar? You might like the one I wrote for you.
MARLENE: A song for me?
JIM: (laughs) Yeah. A love song.
Marlene laughs.
MARLENE: I’m starting to really feel it now, too. I suppose we should go back to your room.
Joey and Jim meet in hall.
JOEY: What’s happening, brother?
JIM: I still have spring fever.
JOEY: Yeah, I know what you mean. You might like to do some of this with a friend.
Joey hands Jim four tabs of mescaline.
JIM: What is it?
JOEY: Just some extra mescaline I’m giving away for free.
JIM: You sure you don’t want me to pay you something?
JOEY: (smiles) I made a lot of bread this spring. Especially at that big anti-war demo. I don’t need any of your money. Catch you later!
Joey heads downstairs. Jim returns to his room.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—DAY
Jim puts three of the tabs in his guitar case. He swallows the fourth tab and leaves his room.
EXT. CAMPUS AREA—DAY
Jim retraces his first walk of the winter around the campus with a big smile on his face. Every twenty yards some freak student says “hi” to him and smiles. Jim walks through the campus, past the Diag political rallying space in front of the graduate library, smiling and saying “hi” to numerous smiling freak students.
EXT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING—DAY
Marlene is walking towards Downtown Ann Arbor. Jim is walking in opposite direction. They notice each other.
JIM: Marlene! You’re just the person I was hoping to bump into. I tried calling you a few times. But nobody answered.
MARLENE: I’ve been staying over at Roger’s a lot.
JIM: Oh…Are you staying around Ann Arbor this summer?
MARLENE: No. I got a job as a camp counselor in Vermont. I need to earn money this summer.
JIM: When are you leaving town?
MARLENE: Next week. First I’ll stay with my parents for a few weeks. Then I go off to Vermont the third week in June.
JIM: I’ll really miss you. How about going out together Saturday night, since we won’t be seeing each other for awhile?
MARLENE: Aren’t you seeing Rachel anymore?
JIM: She’s down in Columbus with her parents for the summer. So we’re not really involved with each other anymore.
MARLENE: Oh. I didn’t know she was away for the summer already.
JIM: Can I meet you at your house? Maybe at about seven? We can drop some mescaline I just got. And go out for dinner. And hang out in my room a little. (smiles) A little going away party for you.
MARLENE: (smiles) That sounds like it might be fun. I’ll see you Saturday night at seven, then.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE MARLENE’S APARTMENT—NIGHT
Jim rings bell. Door slowly opens. Jim looks surprised for an instant. Then he smiles. Marlene is standing in front of him in low-cut dress, looking very glamorous in a more traditional way. Marlene smiles, while Jim quickly glances at her.
MARLENE: HI, Jim!
JIM: Wow! You look as beautiful in a dress as you do in khaki pants.
MARLENE: Yeah. That’s why they elected me Queen of the Prom in high school. Come on in.
Jim walks into the apartment. Marlene follows him, closing the door behind her.
INT. MARLENE’S APARTMENT—NIGHT
Marlene’s studio apartment is sparsely furnished. A lot of books are on shelves. A dinette table is in center of apartment and a single bed is in corner. On the wall are a lot of anti-war posters with pictures of Indochinese people.
Jim takes two tabs from his pocket.
JIM: Here’s the mescaline I said I’d bring. I’ve been wanting to trip with you ever since we met, Marlene.
Jim hands a tab to Marlene, as she smiles.
MARLENE: I figured you did.
Marlene goes to the kitchenette sink and fills up a glass of water. She puts the mescaline tab in her mouth and takes a sip from the glass. Marlene then hands the glass to Jim, who sips from it as he swallows his tab.
MARLENE (CONT’D): I’m glad I’m seeing you before I leave Ann Arbor.
JIM: Are you ready for dinner yet?
MARLENE: I’m ready if you are.
Marlene opens the door and turns off the lights, as she and Jim leave her apartment.
EXT. CAMPUS AREA STREET—NIGHT
Marlene and Jim walk side by side, talking to each other in an animated way and laughing a lot. Every ten yards, some student who knows Marlene waves to her and smiles, and Marlene waves and smiles back. Eventually, Marlene and Jim reach a restaurant next to a movie theatre. They enter the restaurant.
INT. RESTAURANT—NIGHT
The mescaline is beginning to have some effect. Marlene and Jim’s eyes look more stoned, as they each giggle more while finishing desert.
JIM: I’m really starting to feel it now, Marlene. How about going back to my room and I’ll play you some of my songs on my guitar? You might like the one I wrote for you.
MARLENE: A song for me?
JIM: (laughs) Yeah. A love song.
Marlene laughs.
MARLENE: I’m starting to really feel it now, too. I suppose we should go back to your room.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Fugitive Generation (xxi)
INT. DORMITORY HALLWAY—NIGHT
Rachel sits on step that separates a hallway in the dormitory from rear entrance, rolls a joint, then passes it to Jim, who is standing next to her. They pass the joint to each other, back and forth, for a short time. Then Rachel stands up and she and Jim, each giggling, start to walk out of the rear entrance of the dormitory.
INT. MOVIE THEATRE—NIGHT
Jim and Rachel are watching a movie. Rachel leans closer to Jim, puts her arm around him for a few seconds and fondles his hair.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
Jim and Rachel are sitting next to each other on Jim’s mattress. Their legs are stretched out and their shoes are off. They exchange a joint as they talk.
JIM: So are you planning to hang around Ann Arbor after you finish with your finals?
RACHEL: No. I want to save up for a car this summer. So when I move out of the dorm next week, I’m going to go live with my parents. And get a summer job in Columbus.
JIM: What do your parents do?
RACHEL: They’re both professors at Ohio State. Maybe that’s why I’m more into bisexuality, pot and street fighting than academic bull-shit.
JIM: You’re bisexual?
RACHEL: Aren’t we all?
Jim laughs.
JIM: Yeah, I guess we all are. Although I tend to prefer women, myself.
RACHEL: You sound like Marlene. When we were sleeping together, she used to say she was bisexual. But that she tends to prefer men.
JIM: You and Marlene were lovers?
RACHEL: (laughs) Didn’t Marlene ever mention that to you? She and I shared a dormitory room during our freshman year.
INT. DORM ROOM—NIGHT
RACHEL (V.O.): And that’s when we used to sleep together.
Rachel and Marlene are in bed together with their clothes off, kissing each other passionately.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
JIM: Why did you break up with her?
RACHEL: It was after Marlene and I enrolled in a self-defense course at the Women’s Martial Arts Center.
JIM: Oh. I wondered where Marlene learned that fighting stance she went into when she blocked the right-wing hothead from attacking me.
INT. WOMEN’S MARTIAL ARTS CENTER—NIGHT
Marlene and Rachel are practicing karate kicks and punches, along with some other women, under the instruction of the SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR, 33, who’s a tall, short-haired woman.
RACHEL: (V.O.): Yeah. That’s where she learned those moves. But like I was saying, Marlene and I started going to the Women’s Martial Arts Center.
INT. DORM ROOM—NIGHT
Rachel and the Self-Defense Instructor are in bed together with their clothes off. Marlene enters the dorm room, stops, looks surprised, and then quickly leaves the dorm room.
RACHEL (V.O.): But she couldn’t handle it when I started having an affair with the instructor.
INT. JULIE’S APARTMENT—NIGHT
Marlene and Julie are kissing each other passionately on the sofa in Julie’s living room.
RACHEL (V.O.): Then, when she and Julie started having their fling, Marlene decided she wanted to break up with me.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
JIM: Julie? The Julie who works with Hal and the Black Economic Development Council?
RACHEL: That’s the one. Before she started hanging out with Hal, she and Marlene had a short fling. Then Marlene got involved with different men over the next few years. I think she’s been involved with that Roger guy lately.
Jim laughs and passes the joint back to Rachel.
JIM: Julie and Marlene. You and Marlene. You and me. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
Rachel giggles after she inhales the last bit of the roach and tosses it on the floor.
RACHEL: What else is there in life except bisexuality, pot and street fighting?
JIM: There’s romantic love.
Rachel giggles again.
RACHEL: I’ll show you some “romantic love”, Jim!
Rachel suddenly grabs Jim by the hair playfully and starts to grapple with him on the mattress. Then she and Jim start hugging and kissing each other in a more tender way.
INT. MANHATTAN FBI OFFICE—DAY
Kelly sits behind his desk, shuffling some papers. Maloney sits behind an adjacent desk. He is reading a copy of an underground newspaper.
KELLY: The Ann Arbor office in Michigan wants to know if we have files on some organization called “People Against The Air War.”
Maloney continues to read the newspaper as he talks.
MALONEY: (still reading newspaper) “People Against The Air War”? Never heard of it. Tell them to telex to New York any information they get on that organization. Maybe it’s a “front for terrorists.”
Kelly laughs.
Rachel sits on step that separates a hallway in the dormitory from rear entrance, rolls a joint, then passes it to Jim, who is standing next to her. They pass the joint to each other, back and forth, for a short time. Then Rachel stands up and she and Jim, each giggling, start to walk out of the rear entrance of the dormitory.
INT. MOVIE THEATRE—NIGHT
Jim and Rachel are watching a movie. Rachel leans closer to Jim, puts her arm around him for a few seconds and fondles his hair.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
Jim and Rachel are sitting next to each other on Jim’s mattress. Their legs are stretched out and their shoes are off. They exchange a joint as they talk.
JIM: So are you planning to hang around Ann Arbor after you finish with your finals?
RACHEL: No. I want to save up for a car this summer. So when I move out of the dorm next week, I’m going to go live with my parents. And get a summer job in Columbus.
JIM: What do your parents do?
RACHEL: They’re both professors at Ohio State. Maybe that’s why I’m more into bisexuality, pot and street fighting than academic bull-shit.
JIM: You’re bisexual?
RACHEL: Aren’t we all?
Jim laughs.
JIM: Yeah, I guess we all are. Although I tend to prefer women, myself.
RACHEL: You sound like Marlene. When we were sleeping together, she used to say she was bisexual. But that she tends to prefer men.
JIM: You and Marlene were lovers?
RACHEL: (laughs) Didn’t Marlene ever mention that to you? She and I shared a dormitory room during our freshman year.
INT. DORM ROOM—NIGHT
RACHEL (V.O.): And that’s when we used to sleep together.
Rachel and Marlene are in bed together with their clothes off, kissing each other passionately.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
JIM: Why did you break up with her?
RACHEL: It was after Marlene and I enrolled in a self-defense course at the Women’s Martial Arts Center.
JIM: Oh. I wondered where Marlene learned that fighting stance she went into when she blocked the right-wing hothead from attacking me.
INT. WOMEN’S MARTIAL ARTS CENTER—NIGHT
Marlene and Rachel are practicing karate kicks and punches, along with some other women, under the instruction of the SELF-DEFENSE INSTRUCTOR, 33, who’s a tall, short-haired woman.
RACHEL: (V.O.): Yeah. That’s where she learned those moves. But like I was saying, Marlene and I started going to the Women’s Martial Arts Center.
INT. DORM ROOM—NIGHT
Rachel and the Self-Defense Instructor are in bed together with their clothes off. Marlene enters the dorm room, stops, looks surprised, and then quickly leaves the dorm room.
RACHEL (V.O.): But she couldn’t handle it when I started having an affair with the instructor.
INT. JULIE’S APARTMENT—NIGHT
Marlene and Julie are kissing each other passionately on the sofa in Julie’s living room.
RACHEL (V.O.): Then, when she and Julie started having their fling, Marlene decided she wanted to break up with me.
INT. JIM’S ROOM—NIGHT
JIM: Julie? The Julie who works with Hal and the Black Economic Development Council?
RACHEL: That’s the one. Before she started hanging out with Hal, she and Marlene had a short fling. Then Marlene got involved with different men over the next few years. I think she’s been involved with that Roger guy lately.
Jim laughs and passes the joint back to Rachel.
JIM: Julie and Marlene. You and Marlene. You and me. It’s a small world, isn’t it?
Rachel giggles after she inhales the last bit of the roach and tosses it on the floor.
RACHEL: What else is there in life except bisexuality, pot and street fighting?
JIM: There’s romantic love.
Rachel giggles again.
RACHEL: I’ll show you some “romantic love”, Jim!
Rachel suddenly grabs Jim by the hair playfully and starts to grapple with him on the mattress. Then she and Jim start hugging and kissing each other in a more tender way.
INT. MANHATTAN FBI OFFICE—DAY
Kelly sits behind his desk, shuffling some papers. Maloney sits behind an adjacent desk. He is reading a copy of an underground newspaper.
KELLY: The Ann Arbor office in Michigan wants to know if we have files on some organization called “People Against The Air War.”
Maloney continues to read the newspaper as he talks.
MALONEY: (still reading newspaper) “People Against The Air War”? Never heard of it. Tell them to telex to New York any information they get on that organization. Maybe it’s a “front for terrorists.”
Kelly laughs.
The Fugitive Generation (xx)
EXT. BROADWAY and 114TH STREET--DAY
Student demonstrators march north on Broadway, in a festive way, led by a group of women students. They laugh in-between chanting.
DEMONSTRATORS: One,two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS--DAY
Demonstrators march across Low Plaza and chant
DEMONSTRATORS: On strike! Shut it down! On strike! Shut it down!
Demonstrators march towards Hamilton Hall.
EXT. HAMILTON HALL--DAY
Maloney and Kelly stnad near front right door of Hamilton Hall, as demonstrators march by them, through the far left door. Maloney and Kelly examine the faces of the demonstrators as they walk into the building. After the end of the march haas entered Hamilton Hall, Maloney turns to Kelly.
MALONEY: I didn't spot any Weather Fugitives. Did you?
KELLY: No.
MALONEY: How about Greenberg?
KELLY: I didn't see Greenberg either. Should I get O'Connor to contact the neighbors of his parents again? And make sure Greenberg isn't visiting them now?
MALONEY: Yeah. Let's do that.
INT. JIM's ROOM--NIGHT
Rachel and Jim are both nude. Rachel smiles as she straddles Jim on his mattress and bombards Jim with passionate kisses.
INT. STUDENT UNIION BUILDING LOBBY--DAY
Jim purchases newspaper. He glances at front page.
C.U. FRONT PAGE OF "MICHIGAN DAILY" NEWSPAPER
Under a big headline, "3,000 PROTEST AIR WAR; ROTC BUILDING, LABS TRASHED; NATIONAL GUARD TEAR GASES PROTESTERS," there's a photograph of Jim from the back, speaking at the rally and pointing off-campus.
INT. STUDENT ACTIVITIES BUILDING LOUNGE--NIGHT
Marlene chairs meeting.
MARLENE: So I propose that we picket outside the building where the Regents are meeting Friday. And hand out leaflets which demand that the University of Michigan end all its Pentagon research permanently. And discontinue its ROTC program, finally.
Jim raises his hand.
MARLENE (CONT'D): Jim?
JIM: Look. We showed yesterday that we have three thousand sisters and brothers who want ROTC and war researach ended at the University of Michigan. And who want all weapons production ended in the city of Ann Arbor. I don't think we just have to picket outside the building where the Regents are holding their meeting. I think we should march inside the building and go upstairs to where they're meeting. And make our demands right in front of their meeting room.
A few students applaud.
MARLENE: I call myself...I support Jim's idea. Is there anybody who doesn't think we should march inside the building and upstairs to make our demands right in front of the Regents' meeting room?
No hands are raised.
MARLENE (CONT'D): Then let's pass around sign-up sheets for people who want to leaflet.
EXT. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING--DAY
Demonstrators have gathered in front of Administration building. Marlene leads demonstrators into building.
INT. HALLWAY--DAY
Demonstrators sit on the floor outside meeting room, while Marlene speaks.
MARLENE: President Flame has agreed to speak with us inside the meeting room in a few minutes. To explain what the Regents have decided.
INT. REGENTS MEETING ROOM--DAY
Demonstrators sit around table and on floor in Regents' meeting room. University of Michigan President Flame sits at head of table on other side.
PRESIDENT FLAME: The Regents have agreed to form a new committee to study whether the University of Michigan should now terminate its ROTC program and move all classified rresearch work that is being done for the Department of Defense to an off-campus location. That's all you can realistically expect them to do.
JIM: Why can't you just order the ROTC program and the war research labs to be shut down immediately?
PRESIDENT FLAME: I don't have the authority. And it's unrealistic to expect the Regents to agree to shut them down without a committee recommending that it be done.
JIM: That's bull-shit! And you know it's bull-shit! The University of Michigan still wants to receive juicy research contracts from the Pentagon. Even if the war in Indochina goes on forever. That's really why you want to keep the ROTC program going and the secret research labs open. Why don't you stop bull-shitting the University of Michigan student body?
PRESIDENT FLAME: I don't have to listen to anybody talk to me like that. This meeting is over.
Presdient Flame stands up and walks toward the meeting room door.
MARLENE: President Flame! The student government has been demanding that the ROTC program and the war research labs be shut down for the last 4 years! When are you going to start listening to us?
President Flame turns around just before he reaches the meeting room door.
PRESIDENT FLAME: You're lucky I don't suspend you for inciting people to destroy Unviersity of Michigan property, Marlene!
MARLENE: Try it. And you'll have a thousand students sitting in your office.
President Flame turns his back again on demonstrators. He leaves the room, amidst laughter.
JIM: Now I understand why Marlene is more popular at the University of Michigan than President Flame.
MARLENE: As you can see, the Regents and President Flame still don't want to meet the demands of People Against The Air War. That's why we have to keep demonstrating in Ann Arbor as long as the air war against the Indochines people is not ended completely.
Demonstrators file out of the Regents meeting room.
EXT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING--DAY
Marlene is standing next to Roger, 21, a tall red-haired guy with glasses. Jim walks by, notices them and stops.
JIM: Marlene!
MARLENE: Hi, Jim. You know Roger.
JIM: Yeah. I've seen you at the People Against The Air War meetings...Speaking of People Against The Air War, are there going to be anymore meetings? We haven't had one since the Regents meeting demo.
MARLENE: No. That was it for this term. Everybody has to study for finals now. Or finish their term papers.
JIM: And what about you?
MARLENE: I haven't done much schoolwork since we started People Against The Air War. Now I have three weeks to both catch up and write four term papers.
JIM: That's the problem with trying to be a student, when you really want to be an activist.
MARLENE: How about you, Jim? Are you going to go back to your music now?
JIM: I don't know. First I have to figure out how to earn some money to stay in Ann Arbor. My savings are getting real low and I have to find a job.
ROGER: Why don't you go to "Write-On"? They need people to ghostwrite papers.
JIM: That's a good idea. I think I will do that.
INT. WRITE-ON OFFICE--DAY
A mustached man, 25, with long hair in a headband, WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR, sits behind desk. Jim sits on opposite side of desk.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: We exist to free undergrad students from being in academic straitjackets. But some of our best customers are professors who need research done for their books. And grad students, who need us to write their dissertations for them, also are frequent customers.
Write-On Supervisor hands Jim form.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR (CONT'D): This is the format in which each page of the paper should be typed. You get four dollars for each page you write. Special projects, like dissertation-writing and bibliographical work, will be paid accorting to an agreed-upon fee.
JIM: I think I can do it.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: That's good. Since this is our busy season, I can give you three projects that are due by next week. A paper on Dryden. A paper on public school educational issues. And a paper on Shakespeare. I also have PhD dissertation project that pays one thousand dollars, which won't be due until early June.
JIM: I'll takea whatever work you can give me.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: That's what we need.
Write-On Supervisor takes a few project order papers out of a folder. He hands them to Jim, who quickly looks project orders over. Jim stands and smiles.
JIM: See you next week!
Before the Write-On Supervisor has a chance to reply, the telephone on his desk has started to ring. At the same time he answers the telephone, four University of Michigan business school students walk into the office as Jim leaves office.
EXT. CAMPUS LAWN--DAY
Marlene is sitting alone on campus lawn across from library. She is taking notes from big textbook. On his way into the library, carrying a small knapsack, Jim notices Marlene, smiles and walks to where she is sitting. He is wearing a T-shirt and jeans, as is Marlene. Jim sits down next to Marlene.
JIM: Hi, Marlene!
Marlene looks up and puts down her book.
MARLENE: Jim!
Marlene puts her arm around Jim tenderly for a few seconds.
JIM: I haven't seen you in a few weeks. Where have you been?
MARLENE: Trying to avoid people so I don't flunk all my courses this term.
JIM: I miss talking with you.
MARLENE: I miss you,too, Jim. Did you end up finding some job?
JIM: I'm doing the ghostwriting for Write-On Research. That's why I'm going to the library now. I have to use the typewriter there to type up a paper that needs to be ready by tomorrow.
MARLENE: Do you like doing the ghostwriting?
JIM: It's better than doing office work or factory work. And it's easier to write a term paper when you're getting paid for it, than when you're just doing it to pass a course.
MARLENE: Are you able to live on what they pay you?
JIM: The last few days they seem to have less work. But I should get a thousand bucks by the middle of June, when I finish the dissertation they gave me to work on.
Marlene laughs.
MARLENE: Somebody's purchasing their dissertation?
JIM: Yeah. She needs to get a PhD in Educational Administration in order to get hired as a university administrator.
Marlene laughs.
MARLENE: I always wondered why university administrators don't seem to know anything.
Jim laughs.
JIM: How about going to a movie with me this weekend?
MARLENE: I'd like to. But I can't go out too much until I finish all this schoolwork. And I already promised Roger I'd go out with him this weekend.
JIM: Oh...Well, he seems like a nice guy.
MARLENE: Why don't you call me in a few weeks? I should have more free time by then.
JIM: O.K. I'll call you in a few weeks.
Jim suddenly give Marlene a quick kiss on the cheek and stands up.
JIM (CONT'D): Well, I guess I better start typing up that paper.
MARLENE: Nice seeing you again, Jim.
Student demonstrators march north on Broadway, in a festive way, led by a group of women students. They laugh in-between chanting.
DEMONSTRATORS: One,two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY CAMPUS--DAY
Demonstrators march across Low Plaza and chant
DEMONSTRATORS: On strike! Shut it down! On strike! Shut it down!
Demonstrators march towards Hamilton Hall.
EXT. HAMILTON HALL--DAY
Maloney and Kelly stnad near front right door of Hamilton Hall, as demonstrators march by them, through the far left door. Maloney and Kelly examine the faces of the demonstrators as they walk into the building. After the end of the march haas entered Hamilton Hall, Maloney turns to Kelly.
MALONEY: I didn't spot any Weather Fugitives. Did you?
KELLY: No.
MALONEY: How about Greenberg?
KELLY: I didn't see Greenberg either. Should I get O'Connor to contact the neighbors of his parents again? And make sure Greenberg isn't visiting them now?
MALONEY: Yeah. Let's do that.
INT. JIM's ROOM--NIGHT
Rachel and Jim are both nude. Rachel smiles as she straddles Jim on his mattress and bombards Jim with passionate kisses.
INT. STUDENT UNIION BUILDING LOBBY--DAY
Jim purchases newspaper. He glances at front page.
C.U. FRONT PAGE OF "MICHIGAN DAILY" NEWSPAPER
Under a big headline, "3,000 PROTEST AIR WAR; ROTC BUILDING, LABS TRASHED; NATIONAL GUARD TEAR GASES PROTESTERS," there's a photograph of Jim from the back, speaking at the rally and pointing off-campus.
INT. STUDENT ACTIVITIES BUILDING LOUNGE--NIGHT
Marlene chairs meeting.
MARLENE: So I propose that we picket outside the building where the Regents are meeting Friday. And hand out leaflets which demand that the University of Michigan end all its Pentagon research permanently. And discontinue its ROTC program, finally.
Jim raises his hand.
MARLENE (CONT'D): Jim?
JIM: Look. We showed yesterday that we have three thousand sisters and brothers who want ROTC and war researach ended at the University of Michigan. And who want all weapons production ended in the city of Ann Arbor. I don't think we just have to picket outside the building where the Regents are holding their meeting. I think we should march inside the building and go upstairs to where they're meeting. And make our demands right in front of their meeting room.
A few students applaud.
MARLENE: I call myself...I support Jim's idea. Is there anybody who doesn't think we should march inside the building and upstairs to make our demands right in front of the Regents' meeting room?
No hands are raised.
MARLENE (CONT'D): Then let's pass around sign-up sheets for people who want to leaflet.
EXT. ADMINISTRATION BUILDING--DAY
Demonstrators have gathered in front of Administration building. Marlene leads demonstrators into building.
INT. HALLWAY--DAY
Demonstrators sit on the floor outside meeting room, while Marlene speaks.
MARLENE: President Flame has agreed to speak with us inside the meeting room in a few minutes. To explain what the Regents have decided.
INT. REGENTS MEETING ROOM--DAY
Demonstrators sit around table and on floor in Regents' meeting room. University of Michigan President Flame sits at head of table on other side.
PRESIDENT FLAME: The Regents have agreed to form a new committee to study whether the University of Michigan should now terminate its ROTC program and move all classified rresearch work that is being done for the Department of Defense to an off-campus location. That's all you can realistically expect them to do.
JIM: Why can't you just order the ROTC program and the war research labs to be shut down immediately?
PRESIDENT FLAME: I don't have the authority. And it's unrealistic to expect the Regents to agree to shut them down without a committee recommending that it be done.
JIM: That's bull-shit! And you know it's bull-shit! The University of Michigan still wants to receive juicy research contracts from the Pentagon. Even if the war in Indochina goes on forever. That's really why you want to keep the ROTC program going and the secret research labs open. Why don't you stop bull-shitting the University of Michigan student body?
PRESIDENT FLAME: I don't have to listen to anybody talk to me like that. This meeting is over.
Presdient Flame stands up and walks toward the meeting room door.
MARLENE: President Flame! The student government has been demanding that the ROTC program and the war research labs be shut down for the last 4 years! When are you going to start listening to us?
President Flame turns around just before he reaches the meeting room door.
PRESIDENT FLAME: You're lucky I don't suspend you for inciting people to destroy Unviersity of Michigan property, Marlene!
MARLENE: Try it. And you'll have a thousand students sitting in your office.
President Flame turns his back again on demonstrators. He leaves the room, amidst laughter.
JIM: Now I understand why Marlene is more popular at the University of Michigan than President Flame.
MARLENE: As you can see, the Regents and President Flame still don't want to meet the demands of People Against The Air War. That's why we have to keep demonstrating in Ann Arbor as long as the air war against the Indochines people is not ended completely.
Demonstrators file out of the Regents meeting room.
EXT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING--DAY
Marlene is standing next to Roger, 21, a tall red-haired guy with glasses. Jim walks by, notices them and stops.
JIM: Marlene!
MARLENE: Hi, Jim. You know Roger.
JIM: Yeah. I've seen you at the People Against The Air War meetings...Speaking of People Against The Air War, are there going to be anymore meetings? We haven't had one since the Regents meeting demo.
MARLENE: No. That was it for this term. Everybody has to study for finals now. Or finish their term papers.
JIM: And what about you?
MARLENE: I haven't done much schoolwork since we started People Against The Air War. Now I have three weeks to both catch up and write four term papers.
JIM: That's the problem with trying to be a student, when you really want to be an activist.
MARLENE: How about you, Jim? Are you going to go back to your music now?
JIM: I don't know. First I have to figure out how to earn some money to stay in Ann Arbor. My savings are getting real low and I have to find a job.
ROGER: Why don't you go to "Write-On"? They need people to ghostwrite papers.
JIM: That's a good idea. I think I will do that.
INT. WRITE-ON OFFICE--DAY
A mustached man, 25, with long hair in a headband, WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR, sits behind desk. Jim sits on opposite side of desk.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: We exist to free undergrad students from being in academic straitjackets. But some of our best customers are professors who need research done for their books. And grad students, who need us to write their dissertations for them, also are frequent customers.
Write-On Supervisor hands Jim form.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR (CONT'D): This is the format in which each page of the paper should be typed. You get four dollars for each page you write. Special projects, like dissertation-writing and bibliographical work, will be paid accorting to an agreed-upon fee.
JIM: I think I can do it.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: That's good. Since this is our busy season, I can give you three projects that are due by next week. A paper on Dryden. A paper on public school educational issues. And a paper on Shakespeare. I also have PhD dissertation project that pays one thousand dollars, which won't be due until early June.
JIM: I'll takea whatever work you can give me.
WRITE-ON SUPERVISOR: That's what we need.
Write-On Supervisor takes a few project order papers out of a folder. He hands them to Jim, who quickly looks project orders over. Jim stands and smiles.
JIM: See you next week!
Before the Write-On Supervisor has a chance to reply, the telephone on his desk has started to ring. At the same time he answers the telephone, four University of Michigan business school students walk into the office as Jim leaves office.
EXT. CAMPUS LAWN--DAY
Marlene is sitting alone on campus lawn across from library. She is taking notes from big textbook. On his way into the library, carrying a small knapsack, Jim notices Marlene, smiles and walks to where she is sitting. He is wearing a T-shirt and jeans, as is Marlene. Jim sits down next to Marlene.
JIM: Hi, Marlene!
Marlene looks up and puts down her book.
MARLENE: Jim!
Marlene puts her arm around Jim tenderly for a few seconds.
JIM: I haven't seen you in a few weeks. Where have you been?
MARLENE: Trying to avoid people so I don't flunk all my courses this term.
JIM: I miss talking with you.
MARLENE: I miss you,too, Jim. Did you end up finding some job?
JIM: I'm doing the ghostwriting for Write-On Research. That's why I'm going to the library now. I have to use the typewriter there to type up a paper that needs to be ready by tomorrow.
MARLENE: Do you like doing the ghostwriting?
JIM: It's better than doing office work or factory work. And it's easier to write a term paper when you're getting paid for it, than when you're just doing it to pass a course.
MARLENE: Are you able to live on what they pay you?
JIM: The last few days they seem to have less work. But I should get a thousand bucks by the middle of June, when I finish the dissertation they gave me to work on.
Marlene laughs.
MARLENE: Somebody's purchasing their dissertation?
JIM: Yeah. She needs to get a PhD in Educational Administration in order to get hired as a university administrator.
Marlene laughs.
MARLENE: I always wondered why university administrators don't seem to know anything.
Jim laughs.
JIM: How about going to a movie with me this weekend?
MARLENE: I'd like to. But I can't go out too much until I finish all this schoolwork. And I already promised Roger I'd go out with him this weekend.
JIM: Oh...Well, he seems like a nice guy.
MARLENE: Why don't you call me in a few weeks? I should have more free time by then.
JIM: O.K. I'll call you in a few weeks.
Jim suddenly give Marlene a quick kiss on the cheek and stands up.
JIM (CONT'D): Well, I guess I better start typing up that paper.
MARLENE: Nice seeing you again, Jim.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The Fugitive Generation (xix)
INT. COFFEEHOUSE--NIGHT
EMCEE, 29, is long-haired woman who wears jeans. She stands behind microphone in darkened coffeehouse. Only 5 of the 25 seats are occupied. Jim sits on a chair behind Emcee, holding his guitar.
EMCEE: It's been a long night. But there's still one performer left to hear on our "Open Mike Night" at the Ark Coffeehouse.
She looks down on her index card.
EMCEE (CONT'D): Let's hear it for Jim Wilson.
One person in audience quietly applauds. Emcee walks towards rear of coffeehouse. Jim pulls microphone closer to him. He remains seated as he sings.
JIM: Here's a song which I wrote that tells about the history of this country. It's called "Livin' On Stolen Goods." (he sings):
Oh, many, many ages ago
Red people lived alone
At peace with the buffalo
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
To make money they came
The Anglos and their slaves
For housework, they had their dames
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
And they brought with them their guns
And whipped and shot Black ones
They brainwashed their children
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
And westward ho!, they marched
And shot down the reds who tried to resist
And this whole land they robbed
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
And they cramped the Red people in camps
And ghettoized the Blacks
And now they're into Asia
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
Amerika, your riches
Are based on your robbery
You white racists are doomed
'Cause you're livin' on stolen goods.
Yes, many, many ages ago
Red people lived alone
At peace with the buffalo
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
After Jim stops singing, one person in audience applauds along with Emcee. A couple in audience gets up to leave. A second couple continues to make out in the darkness. Emcee returns to front of microophone.
EMCEE: Well, that's all the performers for tonight. We hope to see all of you this Saturday night, when Mike Cooney will be performing at the Ark Coffeehouse.
Jim packs up his guitar after lights are turned on. Emcee smiles at Jim.
EMCEE (CONT'D): I liked your song. Maybe next time you'll have more of an audience when it's your turn to sing.
JIM: Do so many people usually show up to sing for the "Open Mike Night"?
EMCEE: Usually even more than we had tonight. This is Ann Arbor, you know. Where everybody thinks he can make it as a musician.
INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING--DAY
Jim pickes up "Michigan Daily" newspaper from newsstand. He pays cashier, looks at headline and shakes his head.
C.U. Headline of "Michigan Daily"
"NIXON ORDERS BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM RESUMED; PARIS PEACE TALKS SUSPENDED."
INT. ACADEMIC BUILDING LOBBY--DAY
Marlene is sitting behind People Against The Air War table. Jim walks to table and hands her newspaper.
JIM: Did you see the headline, Marlene?
MARLENE: No.
JIM: They're bombing North Vietnam again.
Marlene puts down newspaper.
MARLENE: What should we do?
JIM: Hold an emergency meeting tonight to plan an emergency rally for tomorrow. We've been telling the campus that the war in Indochina was not over, for the last 3 months. And this proves to students that we were right.
MARLENE: That sounds like a good idea. Why don't you write out a leaflet now. And, when Rachel stops by the table, we can go over to the student government office and run it off for the lunchtime and afternoon class-breaks.
EXT. DIAG AREA OF CAMPUS--DAY
Marlene, Rachel and Jim stand on steps of grad school library in front of large crowd of student demonstrators. It's a warm spring day and Marlene is wering khaki pants and a t-shirt with the peace sign on it. She speaks through the bullhorn she is holding.
MARLENE: We are here today to protest the Nixon Administration's decision to again escalate its war against the Indochinese people.
We formed People Against The Air War a few months ago. Because we realized that an unpublicized, automated air war was still being waged against the Indochinese people by the Nixon Administration. And to let people know that weapons for the Pentagon's electronic battlefield in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were still being developed inside University of Michigan laboratories. And were still being manufactured by Ann Arbor corporations. Like KMS. Like Hoover Ball & Bearing. And like Bendix.
Yesterday the Nixon Administration resumed the bombing of North Vietnam. And today, it has begun bombing the outskirts of Hanoi.
People Against The Air War demands that all U.S. bombing in Indochina be immediately stopped!
Demonstrators applaud.
MARLENE (CONT'D): We also demand that all secret war research for the Pentagon currently being done at the University of Michigan be ended immediately!
Demonstrators applaud.
MARLENE (CONT'D): And, finally, we want companies in Ann Arbor that currently manufacture parts for the electronic battlefield and the automated air war in Indochina to stop their war production now!
Demonstrators cheer and applaud.
MARLENE (CONT'D): We're going to now hear from a few more speakers, since people are still arriving at this rally. And then we'll be marching to demonstrate at the ROTC building, the war research labs and the military recruitment office. To express our outrage that the war in Indochina has still not been ended!
Demonstrators applaud. While they're applauding, Marlene turns to Jim.
MARLENE (CONT'D): Jim. Why don't you speak for a few minutes?
Marlene hands Jim the bullhorn.
JIM: They told us the bombing of our Indochinese sisters and brothers had ended. But today they're bombing Hanoi!
They told us they were negotiating a peace agreement in Paris. But today the Paris peace talks are no longer going on!
Is the war in Indochina over?
DEMONSTRATORS: No!
JIM: Is there peace in Indochina?
DEMONSTRATORS: No!
JIM: The U.S. government is once again seeking a military victory in Indochina. But our Indochinese sisters and brothers would rather die than surrender to the bombs of the Pentagon!
Our Indochinese sisters and brothers have responded to the Pentagon's automated air war and electronic battlefield in Indochina with their own counter-offensive. And to prevent the victory of their liberation struggle, the Death Culture has started to bomb Hanoi!
But the Death Culture--in whose name the Pentagon bombs--is being opposed by the Life Culture, as well as by the Indochinese people.
Those of us who live around campuses like Ann Arbor and are anti-war: We represent the Life Culture!
And more and more people in the United States are becoming part of the Life Culture. Because they recognize that the Death Culture stands for endless war, 9-to-5 slavery and the continued oppression of Black people in places like Detroit!
Jim stretches out his right arm and points off-campus at the same time a student newspaper photographer snaps his camera.
JIM (CONT'D): And the Death Culture's Pentagon is controlled by insane people who are willing to commit crimes of mass murder endlessly in Indochina, as part of the global power trip they're still into.
But here in Ann Arbor, we have a Life Culture that lives by a set of humanistic values which seeks peace, love and absolute freedom! Not endless war and the domination of others!
Last May, the Life Culture went to Washington, D.C. and attempted to shut down the U.S. government until it ended its war in Indochina. But despite the May Day demonstration of 1971, the Death Culture did not end its war. Instead, the Death Culture just grabbed off the streets of Washington thousands of May Day demonstrators. And fenced them in!
But if we want to see the war in Indochina finally ended, every day must become a May Day! Every day must become a May Day!
Demonstrators cheer and applaud.
JIM (CONT'D): I know doing Movement work to end the War can get to be a drag. But unless enough of us continue to be activists, as well as freaks, the Death Culture will never end this endless war.
Demonstrators applaud.
Jim hands bullhorn to Rachel. She is wearing jeans and t-shirt that says "Remember Kent State!".
RACHEL: I was arrested in Washington at the May Day demos last year. But the Pentagon is still bombing like shit in Indochina! And unless we get out of the classroom and into the streets again, Nixon is never going to end this fuckin' war!
Demonstrators cheer and applaud. Rachel hands the bullhorn to VIETNAM VET, 24, a bearded freak with long red hair.
VIETNAM VET: I'm a Vietnam Veteran Against The War. And I'd like to say a few words.
Demonstrators cheer and applaud. Then there is silence.
VIETNAM VET (CONT'D): A few of us here know from first-hand experience why the war in Vietnam has to be stopped. The military lied to us before they shipped us to Vietnam. Then we found ourselves being ordered to attack villages of peasants in the countryside. Civilians. Children. Women. Old men without weapons. And when some of the civilians defended themselves, guys from Michigan, from Ohio, from Indiana, were now dead. For no good reason. This fuckin' war makes no sense.
Let's cut the speeches now. Let's stop bull-shitting. And let's start marching to the ROTC building!
Demonstrators cheer. A group of Vietnam Vets rush to the front of the rally crowd. The demonstrators begin to march across campus towards ROTC building.
DEMONSTRATORS: One! Two! Three! Four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. ROTC BUILDING--DAY
A few crew-cutted frat students stand in front of ROTC bulding. They look bewildered. Vietnam Vet and other members of his group storm into building.
INT. ROTC BUILDING HALLWAY--DAY
Vietnam Vet picks up chair and shatters case of ROTC trophies. Other Vietnam Vet group members smash windowed cases and pull down bulletin boards. They then lead demonstrators into different ROTC building classrooms.
INT. ROTC CLASSROOM--DAY
Marlene and Jim pull bulletin board down from wall. Then they tip over a desk and turn a big wastepaper basket over. Next they start ripping down posters of soldiers and tossing chairs over.
INT. ROTC STORAGE CLOSET--DAY
Rachel and other demonstrators pull ROTC uniforms out of storage closet and throw uniforms on floor. They then step on the uniforms. Some demonstrators dump red paint on uniforms.
INT. ROTC CLASSROOM--DAY
Vietnam Vet and members of Vet group smash lamps inside a ROTC classroom. Julie opens a desk and dumps what's inside onto the floor. Joey pulls a clock out of the wall.
INT. ROTC BUILDING HALLWAY--DAY
Marlene and Jim join others in tipping over lockers in hallway.
EXT. ROTC BUILDING--DAY
Led by Vietnam Vets, demonsrators leave ROTC building and link up with other demonstrators already outside.
EXT. ENGINEERING BUILDING--DAY
Vietnam Vet and his group lead demonstrators into building.
INT. ENGINEERING BUILDING HALLWAY--DAY
Demonstrators are in front of door marked "Restricted Area." Vietnam Vet opens door.
INT. ELECTRONIC WAR RESEARCH LAB--DAY
Demonstrators, led by Vietnam Vet, enter lab. The lab contains a lot of wires and electronic equipment and gadgetry. Vietnam Vet starts to toss equipment on floor. Other vets do same. Marlene and Jim tip over some desks. Rachel throws a few chairs in the corner. Julie rips down some boards. Other demonstrators join them in wrecking laboratory. Within a few minutes, laboratory is completely trashed and wires are ripped out of sockets and tossed in corner of the room. Demonstrators then leave trashed electronic war research lab quickly.
EXT. DIAG AREA OF CAMPUS--DAY
Demonstrators march across campus, towards Downtown Ann Arbor.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war! One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET--DAY
Demonstrators march down street, still chanting. They block traffic, while non-demonstrating students watch from sidewalk.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. U.S. MILITARY RECRUITMENT OFFICE--DAY
Demonstrators stop in front of U.S. Military Recruitment Office. Vietnam Vet picks up rock and breaks glass of windows in front of U.S. Army recruiter's desk. A few seconds later, Jim tosses a rock that breaks glass in front of U.S. Marine recruiter's desk. Demonstrators start marching back towards campus, chanting.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. DIAG. AREA OF CAMPUS--dAY
The size of anti-war demonstration has grown. Marlene is standing on library steps and speaking through a bullhorn.
MARLENE: We are here to demand that the Nixon Administration stop its bombing in Indochina!
Demonstrators cheer.
MARLENE (CONT'D): And to demand that all weapons production in Ann Arbor for the automated air war in Indochina be ended!
Demonstrators cheer.
MARLENE (CONT'D): We also demand that the University of Michigan stop doing war research for the electronic battlefield in its laboratories!
Demonstrators cheer.
MARLENE (CONT'D): What do we want?
DEMONSTRATORS: Peace!
MARLENE (CONT'D): When do we want it?
DEMONSTRATORS: Now!
MARLENE: If you look around you, you can see that since this rally started our numbers have doubled. So I propose that we continue this demonstration and march now to the Interstate Highway. To demand that the Nixon Administration finally end its war against the Indochinese people! Are you ready to march to the highway with me?
DEMONSTRATORS: Yes!
Rachel raises her fist.
RACHEL: To the highway!
EXT. WASHTENAW BLVD.--DAY
Washtenaw Blvd. is a divided, major thoroughfare, with 3 lanes on each side, located between a strip of fast food restaurants, motels and shopping malls. The demonstrators are marching in a festive, jovial way on side of the road. Traffic is at a standstill behind the march. Michigan State Police monitor the demonstrators from inside police car, from motorcycles or by walking alongside demonstrators.
Marlene walks with group of women students. She is smiling and laughing, as the women talk with each other.
Jim walks by himself. When front of march momentarily stops, Rachel, walks up behind Jim and taps him on his right shoulder. Jim turns around.
JIM: Oh, hi Rachel. Good demo, huh?
Rachel looks over Jim's body and gives him a seductive glance.
RACHEL: Yeah. I liked your little speech. How about getting a cup of coffee with me after the demo? I've been wanting to get to know you better. Ever since we first met.
Rachel puts her right arm around Jim's waist fondly for a few seconds. Jim gazes at Rachel for a moment. Then he smiles.
JIM: O.K. After the demo we can get a cup of coffee together.
The anti-war march moves forward again. Jim and Rachel converse quietly and laugh, while they now march next to each other.
EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE--DAY
Front of anti-war march has reached entrance ramp of Interstate Highway. But any further approach onto highway is now being prevented by 50 National Guardsmen who are wearing gas masks. Five of the Guardsmen are holding tear gas launching equipment. Demonstrators start to chant.
DEMONSTRATORS: No Police State! Remember Kent State! No Police State! Remember Jackson State!
The loud chanting continues until all of marchers arrive at the highway entrance and are facing off the National Guardsmen. About 15 yards separate National Guard troops from anti-war demonstrators.
A few demonstrators move closer to troops and sit down on highway entrance ramp in front of troops. When about 30 demonstrators have sat down, 3 of the National Guardsmen suddenly fire tear gas at demonstrators. There's suddenly a lot of tear gas in the air. Demonstrators who were sitting down start to choke, stand up and begin to retreat from area, along with other demonstrators. Interstate Highway entrance area becomes flooded with tear gas. A few of the demonstrators are vomiting as they march back towards Washtenaw Blvd. Along with other demonstrators, Marlene, Jim, Rachel, Julie, Patty, Joey and Vietnam Vet are coughing.
EXT. WASHTENAW BLVD.--DAY
Demonstrators march rapidly on Washtenaw Blvd. in a less jovial mood than previously. Many of the demonstrators are still coughing.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war! The streets belong to the people! The streets belong to the people!
INT. COLUMBIA SPECTATOR STUDENT NEWSPAPER OFFICE--DAY
Louise is sitting behind desk editing copy. Eddie rushes into office.
EDDIE: They're going to occupy a building to protest the new bombing of North Vietnam! They say they're going to shut down Columbia like students did in 1968!
Louise stands up.
LOUISE: Shut it down like in 1968? When?
EDDIE: They say they'll march into a building as soon as they finish marching up Broadway!
LOUISE: How many are marching?
EDDIE: it looks like a thousand.
LOUISE: Holy shit! That Greenberg guy was right when he predicted that Columbia would get shut down this month!
EMCEE, 29, is long-haired woman who wears jeans. She stands behind microphone in darkened coffeehouse. Only 5 of the 25 seats are occupied. Jim sits on a chair behind Emcee, holding his guitar.
EMCEE: It's been a long night. But there's still one performer left to hear on our "Open Mike Night" at the Ark Coffeehouse.
She looks down on her index card.
EMCEE (CONT'D): Let's hear it for Jim Wilson.
One person in audience quietly applauds. Emcee walks towards rear of coffeehouse. Jim pulls microphone closer to him. He remains seated as he sings.
JIM: Here's a song which I wrote that tells about the history of this country. It's called "Livin' On Stolen Goods." (he sings):
Oh, many, many ages ago
Red people lived alone
At peace with the buffalo
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
To make money they came
The Anglos and their slaves
For housework, they had their dames
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
And they brought with them their guns
And whipped and shot Black ones
They brainwashed their children
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
And westward ho!, they marched
And shot down the reds who tried to resist
And this whole land they robbed
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
And they cramped the Red people in camps
And ghettoized the Blacks
And now they're into Asia
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
Amerika, your riches
Are based on your robbery
You white racists are doomed
'Cause you're livin' on stolen goods.
Yes, many, many ages ago
Red people lived alone
At peace with the buffalo
Oh, they're livin' on stolen goods.
After Jim stops singing, one person in audience applauds along with Emcee. A couple in audience gets up to leave. A second couple continues to make out in the darkness. Emcee returns to front of microophone.
EMCEE: Well, that's all the performers for tonight. We hope to see all of you this Saturday night, when Mike Cooney will be performing at the Ark Coffeehouse.
Jim packs up his guitar after lights are turned on. Emcee smiles at Jim.
EMCEE (CONT'D): I liked your song. Maybe next time you'll have more of an audience when it's your turn to sing.
JIM: Do so many people usually show up to sing for the "Open Mike Night"?
EMCEE: Usually even more than we had tonight. This is Ann Arbor, you know. Where everybody thinks he can make it as a musician.
INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING--DAY
Jim pickes up "Michigan Daily" newspaper from newsstand. He pays cashier, looks at headline and shakes his head.
C.U. Headline of "Michigan Daily"
"NIXON ORDERS BOMBING OF NORTH VIETNAM RESUMED; PARIS PEACE TALKS SUSPENDED."
INT. ACADEMIC BUILDING LOBBY--DAY
Marlene is sitting behind People Against The Air War table. Jim walks to table and hands her newspaper.
JIM: Did you see the headline, Marlene?
MARLENE: No.
JIM: They're bombing North Vietnam again.
Marlene puts down newspaper.
MARLENE: What should we do?
JIM: Hold an emergency meeting tonight to plan an emergency rally for tomorrow. We've been telling the campus that the war in Indochina was not over, for the last 3 months. And this proves to students that we were right.
MARLENE: That sounds like a good idea. Why don't you write out a leaflet now. And, when Rachel stops by the table, we can go over to the student government office and run it off for the lunchtime and afternoon class-breaks.
EXT. DIAG AREA OF CAMPUS--DAY
Marlene, Rachel and Jim stand on steps of grad school library in front of large crowd of student demonstrators. It's a warm spring day and Marlene is wering khaki pants and a t-shirt with the peace sign on it. She speaks through the bullhorn she is holding.
MARLENE: We are here today to protest the Nixon Administration's decision to again escalate its war against the Indochinese people.
We formed People Against The Air War a few months ago. Because we realized that an unpublicized, automated air war was still being waged against the Indochinese people by the Nixon Administration. And to let people know that weapons for the Pentagon's electronic battlefield in South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were still being developed inside University of Michigan laboratories. And were still being manufactured by Ann Arbor corporations. Like KMS. Like Hoover Ball & Bearing. And like Bendix.
Yesterday the Nixon Administration resumed the bombing of North Vietnam. And today, it has begun bombing the outskirts of Hanoi.
People Against The Air War demands that all U.S. bombing in Indochina be immediately stopped!
Demonstrators applaud.
MARLENE (CONT'D): We also demand that all secret war research for the Pentagon currently being done at the University of Michigan be ended immediately!
Demonstrators applaud.
MARLENE (CONT'D): And, finally, we want companies in Ann Arbor that currently manufacture parts for the electronic battlefield and the automated air war in Indochina to stop their war production now!
Demonstrators cheer and applaud.
MARLENE (CONT'D): We're going to now hear from a few more speakers, since people are still arriving at this rally. And then we'll be marching to demonstrate at the ROTC building, the war research labs and the military recruitment office. To express our outrage that the war in Indochina has still not been ended!
Demonstrators applaud. While they're applauding, Marlene turns to Jim.
MARLENE (CONT'D): Jim. Why don't you speak for a few minutes?
Marlene hands Jim the bullhorn.
JIM: They told us the bombing of our Indochinese sisters and brothers had ended. But today they're bombing Hanoi!
They told us they were negotiating a peace agreement in Paris. But today the Paris peace talks are no longer going on!
Is the war in Indochina over?
DEMONSTRATORS: No!
JIM: Is there peace in Indochina?
DEMONSTRATORS: No!
JIM: The U.S. government is once again seeking a military victory in Indochina. But our Indochinese sisters and brothers would rather die than surrender to the bombs of the Pentagon!
Our Indochinese sisters and brothers have responded to the Pentagon's automated air war and electronic battlefield in Indochina with their own counter-offensive. And to prevent the victory of their liberation struggle, the Death Culture has started to bomb Hanoi!
But the Death Culture--in whose name the Pentagon bombs--is being opposed by the Life Culture, as well as by the Indochinese people.
Those of us who live around campuses like Ann Arbor and are anti-war: We represent the Life Culture!
And more and more people in the United States are becoming part of the Life Culture. Because they recognize that the Death Culture stands for endless war, 9-to-5 slavery and the continued oppression of Black people in places like Detroit!
Jim stretches out his right arm and points off-campus at the same time a student newspaper photographer snaps his camera.
JIM (CONT'D): And the Death Culture's Pentagon is controlled by insane people who are willing to commit crimes of mass murder endlessly in Indochina, as part of the global power trip they're still into.
But here in Ann Arbor, we have a Life Culture that lives by a set of humanistic values which seeks peace, love and absolute freedom! Not endless war and the domination of others!
Last May, the Life Culture went to Washington, D.C. and attempted to shut down the U.S. government until it ended its war in Indochina. But despite the May Day demonstration of 1971, the Death Culture did not end its war. Instead, the Death Culture just grabbed off the streets of Washington thousands of May Day demonstrators. And fenced them in!
But if we want to see the war in Indochina finally ended, every day must become a May Day! Every day must become a May Day!
Demonstrators cheer and applaud.
JIM (CONT'D): I know doing Movement work to end the War can get to be a drag. But unless enough of us continue to be activists, as well as freaks, the Death Culture will never end this endless war.
Demonstrators applaud.
Jim hands bullhorn to Rachel. She is wearing jeans and t-shirt that says "Remember Kent State!".
RACHEL: I was arrested in Washington at the May Day demos last year. But the Pentagon is still bombing like shit in Indochina! And unless we get out of the classroom and into the streets again, Nixon is never going to end this fuckin' war!
Demonstrators cheer and applaud. Rachel hands the bullhorn to VIETNAM VET, 24, a bearded freak with long red hair.
VIETNAM VET: I'm a Vietnam Veteran Against The War. And I'd like to say a few words.
Demonstrators cheer and applaud. Then there is silence.
VIETNAM VET (CONT'D): A few of us here know from first-hand experience why the war in Vietnam has to be stopped. The military lied to us before they shipped us to Vietnam. Then we found ourselves being ordered to attack villages of peasants in the countryside. Civilians. Children. Women. Old men without weapons. And when some of the civilians defended themselves, guys from Michigan, from Ohio, from Indiana, were now dead. For no good reason. This fuckin' war makes no sense.
Let's cut the speeches now. Let's stop bull-shitting. And let's start marching to the ROTC building!
Demonstrators cheer. A group of Vietnam Vets rush to the front of the rally crowd. The demonstrators begin to march across campus towards ROTC building.
DEMONSTRATORS: One! Two! Three! Four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. ROTC BUILDING--DAY
A few crew-cutted frat students stand in front of ROTC bulding. They look bewildered. Vietnam Vet and other members of his group storm into building.
INT. ROTC BUILDING HALLWAY--DAY
Vietnam Vet picks up chair and shatters case of ROTC trophies. Other Vietnam Vet group members smash windowed cases and pull down bulletin boards. They then lead demonstrators into different ROTC building classrooms.
INT. ROTC CLASSROOM--DAY
Marlene and Jim pull bulletin board down from wall. Then they tip over a desk and turn a big wastepaper basket over. Next they start ripping down posters of soldiers and tossing chairs over.
INT. ROTC STORAGE CLOSET--DAY
Rachel and other demonstrators pull ROTC uniforms out of storage closet and throw uniforms on floor. They then step on the uniforms. Some demonstrators dump red paint on uniforms.
INT. ROTC CLASSROOM--DAY
Vietnam Vet and members of Vet group smash lamps inside a ROTC classroom. Julie opens a desk and dumps what's inside onto the floor. Joey pulls a clock out of the wall.
INT. ROTC BUILDING HALLWAY--DAY
Marlene and Jim join others in tipping over lockers in hallway.
EXT. ROTC BUILDING--DAY
Led by Vietnam Vets, demonsrators leave ROTC building and link up with other demonstrators already outside.
EXT. ENGINEERING BUILDING--DAY
Vietnam Vet and his group lead demonstrators into building.
INT. ENGINEERING BUILDING HALLWAY--DAY
Demonstrators are in front of door marked "Restricted Area." Vietnam Vet opens door.
INT. ELECTRONIC WAR RESEARCH LAB--DAY
Demonstrators, led by Vietnam Vet, enter lab. The lab contains a lot of wires and electronic equipment and gadgetry. Vietnam Vet starts to toss equipment on floor. Other vets do same. Marlene and Jim tip over some desks. Rachel throws a few chairs in the corner. Julie rips down some boards. Other demonstrators join them in wrecking laboratory. Within a few minutes, laboratory is completely trashed and wires are ripped out of sockets and tossed in corner of the room. Demonstrators then leave trashed electronic war research lab quickly.
EXT. DIAG AREA OF CAMPUS--DAY
Demonstrators march across campus, towards Downtown Ann Arbor.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war! One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET--DAY
Demonstrators march down street, still chanting. They block traffic, while non-demonstrating students watch from sidewalk.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. U.S. MILITARY RECRUITMENT OFFICE--DAY
Demonstrators stop in front of U.S. Military Recruitment Office. Vietnam Vet picks up rock and breaks glass of windows in front of U.S. Army recruiter's desk. A few seconds later, Jim tosses a rock that breaks glass in front of U.S. Marine recruiter's desk. Demonstrators start marching back towards campus, chanting.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three four! We don't want your fuckin' war!
EXT. DIAG. AREA OF CAMPUS--dAY
The size of anti-war demonstration has grown. Marlene is standing on library steps and speaking through a bullhorn.
MARLENE: We are here to demand that the Nixon Administration stop its bombing in Indochina!
Demonstrators cheer.
MARLENE (CONT'D): And to demand that all weapons production in Ann Arbor for the automated air war in Indochina be ended!
Demonstrators cheer.
MARLENE (CONT'D): We also demand that the University of Michigan stop doing war research for the electronic battlefield in its laboratories!
Demonstrators cheer.
MARLENE (CONT'D): What do we want?
DEMONSTRATORS: Peace!
MARLENE (CONT'D): When do we want it?
DEMONSTRATORS: Now!
MARLENE: If you look around you, you can see that since this rally started our numbers have doubled. So I propose that we continue this demonstration and march now to the Interstate Highway. To demand that the Nixon Administration finally end its war against the Indochinese people! Are you ready to march to the highway with me?
DEMONSTRATORS: Yes!
Rachel raises her fist.
RACHEL: To the highway!
EXT. WASHTENAW BLVD.--DAY
Washtenaw Blvd. is a divided, major thoroughfare, with 3 lanes on each side, located between a strip of fast food restaurants, motels and shopping malls. The demonstrators are marching in a festive, jovial way on side of the road. Traffic is at a standstill behind the march. Michigan State Police monitor the demonstrators from inside police car, from motorcycles or by walking alongside demonstrators.
Marlene walks with group of women students. She is smiling and laughing, as the women talk with each other.
Jim walks by himself. When front of march momentarily stops, Rachel, walks up behind Jim and taps him on his right shoulder. Jim turns around.
JIM: Oh, hi Rachel. Good demo, huh?
Rachel looks over Jim's body and gives him a seductive glance.
RACHEL: Yeah. I liked your little speech. How about getting a cup of coffee with me after the demo? I've been wanting to get to know you better. Ever since we first met.
Rachel puts her right arm around Jim's waist fondly for a few seconds. Jim gazes at Rachel for a moment. Then he smiles.
JIM: O.K. After the demo we can get a cup of coffee together.
The anti-war march moves forward again. Jim and Rachel converse quietly and laugh, while they now march next to each other.
EXT. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ENTRANCE--DAY
Front of anti-war march has reached entrance ramp of Interstate Highway. But any further approach onto highway is now being prevented by 50 National Guardsmen who are wearing gas masks. Five of the Guardsmen are holding tear gas launching equipment. Demonstrators start to chant.
DEMONSTRATORS: No Police State! Remember Kent State! No Police State! Remember Jackson State!
The loud chanting continues until all of marchers arrive at the highway entrance and are facing off the National Guardsmen. About 15 yards separate National Guard troops from anti-war demonstrators.
A few demonstrators move closer to troops and sit down on highway entrance ramp in front of troops. When about 30 demonstrators have sat down, 3 of the National Guardsmen suddenly fire tear gas at demonstrators. There's suddenly a lot of tear gas in the air. Demonstrators who were sitting down start to choke, stand up and begin to retreat from area, along with other demonstrators. Interstate Highway entrance area becomes flooded with tear gas. A few of the demonstrators are vomiting as they march back towards Washtenaw Blvd. Along with other demonstrators, Marlene, Jim, Rachel, Julie, Patty, Joey and Vietnam Vet are coughing.
EXT. WASHTENAW BLVD.--DAY
Demonstrators march rapidly on Washtenaw Blvd. in a less jovial mood than previously. Many of the demonstrators are still coughing.
DEMONSTRATORS: One, two, three, four! We don't want your fuckin' war! The streets belong to the people! The streets belong to the people!
INT. COLUMBIA SPECTATOR STUDENT NEWSPAPER OFFICE--DAY
Louise is sitting behind desk editing copy. Eddie rushes into office.
EDDIE: They're going to occupy a building to protest the new bombing of North Vietnam! They say they're going to shut down Columbia like students did in 1968!
Louise stands up.
LOUISE: Shut it down like in 1968? When?
EDDIE: They say they'll march into a building as soon as they finish marching up Broadway!
LOUISE: How many are marching?
EDDIE: it looks like a thousand.
LOUISE: Holy shit! That Greenberg guy was right when he predicted that Columbia would get shut down this month!
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