Original subtitles

We all need times to drop in.

and drop out steve's lucky he can drop out he can escape with his music you can

be happy you can be sad you can really show your feelings music is freedom for

steve

Some days I think I can find freedom in reading and writing.

But now, more than anything else, I can't escape all these new feelings

inside me.

I can hear them in the music Steve plays or read about them in this book I'm

reading called On the Road by Jack Kerouac.

Derry says I've grown more this year than in the last two put together.

He says now I'm growing toward being more a man than a boy.

In health class, the teacher calls it puberty.

That's Latin for getting older, like when boys are 14 and girls are 12.

It's called a lot of other things by the guys in our neighborhood, and all of

them have to do with girls.

And they're not 12 -year -olds either.

How far is it going?

Okay.

Got my notebook.

Keeping you after school?

I gotta finish this book report.

Are you going to the dance tomorrow night?

No. How come?

Well, I'm fishing with Darian Buck.

It's our yearly fishing trip.

Even if I went there, I wouldn't go, though.

What's wrong? Can't you dance?

No, it's not bad.

Then what is it?

I feel funny going to the dances.

I don't know many girls.

You went to the last dance.

I even saw you dancing.

Yeah, once.

Well, I'm really sorry you won't be there.

I really am.

Yeah, well, you and Greg will have a good time together.

All that king and queen stuff.

I'm not going with Greg.

We're not seeing each other that much anymore.

I can take someone else if I want to.

Who are you going with?

I don't know.

No one's asked me yet.

Sherry, you won't have much of a problem finding the date.

Hey, Ponyboy. Sherry, let's go. We have a meeting with the Entertainment

Committee. Marsha's waiting for us.

I hope you catch lots of fish, Ponyboy.

Hey, what's your booking report on?

On the road.

Jack Kerouac.

Ah, that's a great book.

Where is he now?

At the dark and mysterious Ohio River.

Great. Tell him I'll meet you both at San Francisco.

Hey, Raccoon.

Jack Kerouac. He wrote about this country, these people, places, one end

other. It's great stuff. I know we usually don't have live bands, except at

homecomings and songs, and we know there's nothing in the budget for one.

Mr. Stock, Marcia says she's found this great new group.

You have to admit that since Marcia's been head of the social committee, the

dance has been a lot more interesting.

The watermelon dance, especially.

Great costumes, all those cantaloupes and cucumbers.

And watermelons every day.

This band will be a great surprise.

Well, who are they?

Where are they from?

They're different, and they're a surprise.

So you're asking me to approve your surprise?

Mr. Stocks, this is 60, some of the best music in the world that's being read

and played right now.

The best.

Like that. Just keep a steady beat. I don't know, Buck. I need lots of

You be okay. We're all new at this sort of.

You'll be fine.

Now, Buck, do you really have to go?

You boys know how I feel about fishing.

It's number one with a bullet in my life.

Besides, I gave you the whole place and the whole weekend to practice.

I don't know, Buck. We're nothing without you on the run. The last two

Saturdays, business really picked up. I've been coming here to see you more

us. Listen, boys, you came to me a month ago. You said you wanted to earn some

extra money and you wanted to form a greaser band. I said I'd help.

I didn't say I'd play with you forever.

Or even every weekend.

Yeah, Buck, you said all that.

Besides, this is as good a weekend as any to start learning to play on your

I'm just going fishing with Pony and Barry.

I'll be back Sunday night.

The place is yours if you want it.

If it was up to me, I'd fish five days and sleep two.

All right, bye.

Yeah, see you, Buck.

Hey, Scout.

Gary said he'll be right back. He went to the store to pick up some groceries

for your fishing trip.

Good deal.

You said you were going to Mohawk Lake for some fishing.

That's right.

I always go at the time of year. Fish are really jumping. So what are you

this weekend?

I don't know. Hang out somewhere.

Why don't you go to the dance?

The king and queen dance? That's stupid.

Then just hang out and listen to the music.

And I have a dress to wear.

Then get one. I hate dresses.

Anyway, last time I went to the dance, the only one who danced with me was you.

And I had to ask you.

You were the only one I danced with.

It's okay. I was a little scared asking you one.

Wouldn't you rather go to the dance than go fishing?

No way. I've been looking forward to this trip all year.

Who are you kidding? If Cherry asked you, you'd be over there in a second.

on, Scout. Get off it. I bet you even dream about her.

You and Cherry.

She's driving you around in her red Corvette.

One hand's on the wheel, the other's on yours.

Johnny Mathis plays on the radio.

Chances are I will wear a silly grin the moment you come into my life.

Then your dream takes you into the dance.

She's got both arms wrapped around you, slow dancing.

Chances are... Are you finished?

No, because if I asked you to go to the dance, you'd say you had to go fishing.

Have a good time. Catch lots of fish. Where are you going?

To the movies.

Godzilla eats you.

Hey, Scott.

Where are you going?

Sticking.

What was that all about?

Scott's just trying to figure out the rest of her life.

Oh, is that all?

No problem.

Call Bug from the stories on his way over and put the ice chest outside.

Great.

Hey, Darian. How come we never invite girls on our trip?

There's guys' weekends and there's weekends for girls. This is a guys'

Well, yeah, but if we don't invite them, all we do is sit around and talk about

them anyway.

But if we take them, we can't talk about them.

Besides... Hey, don't say it.

You're not going to say we can't live with them, we can't live without them,

you? Huh?

You told the vice principal what? I said I'd take full responsibility.

I said this is the greatest new group I ever heard.

And all the kids deserve to hear you. Why don't you just expect us to get up

there in front of everybody?

Too big.

Are you telling me that you guys won't do it?

Does he know who we are?

Only Randy and Sharno to everyone else, including the vice principal. You're

surprised.

You know she's doing this?

Who's me?

Marsha.

We're just a neighborhood garage band.

You're asking us to sing in front of a school dance.

I'll pay you. I found 20 bucks in the budget.

What do you want? We have songs. How many?

We've only been playing for four weeks.

We have three songs.

Well, don't worry, you guys.

I'll save you.

Now the king will sing.

No, I'll win them over.

Just me and the king up there on the stage looking down on all them weenie

social kids.

We're the Northside Creature Band.

We can do anything.

Don't you forget that.

Cupid's right.

Okay.

One number.

One number plus the king.

Okay, we'll do it. Tomorrow.

Meet you in the back of the gym. You'll go on at 8 .30.

You'll be a great surprise. The best thing since the watermelon dance.

Okay, guys. We'll go practice.

All right, play.

Beautiful country, all right.

How do you wait here? We'll pay for the camera.

Next four hours, Tony boy, you'll be coming down here to get the bait. The

license.

You be sure to hurry down to get that bait. First thing.

Passed about a mile down the road to the right.

You need some help?

I need three licenses.

Sure, come on over here. I'll write you up.

Um, the worms and fish eggs and these books.

Your name?

Ponyboy Curse.

Ponyboy, that's a real interesting name.

You like horses?

I'm not sure.

Um, the other two are Dale Curtis, my brother, and our friend, Buck Morrell.

Are you as interesting as your name?

Um... You don't have to answer that.

I never really thought about it. Well, I'll bet you are.

Okay, that'll be, um, $2 for the annual license fees, uh, 50 cents for the fish

eggs, the bait's $35, and the hook's done.

I have 10.

Are you still staying over at the lot?

No, we're camping out up the road about a mile.

At least until tomorrow.

Well, um, maybe we'll see you around, fun boy.

Good luck with your fishing.

Thanks.

Three bucks for the gas.

This your new job?

Just helping out.

Thank you.

Don't you dance? I don't like dancing.

You're gonna miss that big debut.

Don't. Just a bunch of grease balls playing music.

Hey, Northside Grease are banned.

That's right.

Just wanted to let you know that the back door to the gym is open. You can

your stuff in there.

I gotta run and get some crepe paper, so I'll meet you back there in an hour.

Okay.

Why don't you help us out?

She does, and I know nobody will mess with us.

Big deal.

You guys only know one song.

We're up three, okay?

That's right. And the king here, he gets to sing the slow one.

Right, so Soda can dance.

And when the king sings, it's slow, not so soft.

When I look in your eyes, move my lips, then you know I'm the king of rock and

roll.

You know, we wouldn't let anybody be our road manager.

That's right.

Just stop by closing up for Steve and I.

Marshal will give you a ride.

Come on, guys.

I never said I would.

Then just come along and help me out. You can close up with Soden, Steve. I'll

wait for you.

Do I have to wear a dress?

You know, Barry, I'm seriously thinking about getting married again. To who?

I don't know. I haven't met her yet.

Buck, how many times have you been married?

One and a half. Half?

Japan, Japanese gal.

Before I shipped over to Korea.

It was just like being married. I probably should have gone back and

her. Why didn't you?

Because I came home, married my childhood sweetheart.

Lasted six months.

She went south.

Ran off with a bull rider from Montana.

I hit the road playing drums with a blues band.

Didn't you divorce her?

I don't know.

When I go from one state to another, I take up a whole new set of laws.

I guess that leaves you and me still looking for the right woman, huh?

Yep.

You guys sound like two old men.

You remember when we were his age?

Sure do.

Happens to all of us, Ponyboy.

Waiting to win that first race and break your maiden.

It'll happen soon enough.

When it does, it's a great day.

Then we can start calling you one of us, right, Buck?

That's right.

From that day on, you'll always be out there looking.

You know, I could have stayed home. I got into a big dance at school tonight.

I had this girl itching to ask me.

Then why didn't you?

Oh, it's no big deal.

Ponyboy, let me tell you something about fishing and women. I had an uncle in

Arkansas.

From the time I was five, I always went fishing with him.

When I was 15, I fell in love for the first time.

Didn't see my uncle again for six months.

I'm about to say this next time I take that date.

Hey.

I'm calling you all morning. My mother told me you were here.

I'm a little confused. Are we going to this dance together, Sherry, or not?

Look, I told you, I want to cool it a while.

Well, I don't.

Well, I do.

Look, you want to go a lot farther than I want to.

And you have a lot of other things on your mind.

I'm not ready for that.

Well, what's wrong with that? You always seem to be having as much fun as I am.

Sherry, come on.

We're the king and queen of the dance. The king and queen of the dance always

together.

It's going to be embarrassing if you don't believe me.

Well, there's a first time for everything.

Don't you think it's a little late to get a date?

Well, who could you ask to have a date to go to a dance?

Do you have a date for tonight, Randy?

Uh, no. I'm the emcee, remember?

Well, I might need a ride.

Yeah, okay. All right.

Is 7 o 'clock okay?

Yeah, 7 o 'clock's fine. It's fine.

I'll listen, Sherry. If Greg takes my nose and puts it on the side of my face,

will you realign it for me?

Yeah.

Okay, great. I'll pick you up at 7. Okay.

Then Mary Lou began making love to me.

She said Dean was going to stay with Camille, and she wanted me to go with

Come back to San Francisco with us.

We'll live together.

Hey, Dean knows how to book, pony boy. It's time for lunch. I got the fish, and

Buck's getting the fire started.

Great, Gary.

You know, you said I was either smart or stupid to come down here.

I'm thinking I was stupid.

Back at school, probably all your buddies have been telling you how much

been getting.

Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

But trust me, I know how much pressure there is at your age to have to prove

yourself. But you, see, you're the type of person who will always, always lead

with his heart.

And if that's the way you want it to be, Pony, then just let it happen.

Smile.

Hello? Cherry?

Hi, it's me, Ponyboy.

Hi, how's the fishing?

So far, Derry's the only one having any luck.

I just called to see how everything was with you.

Well, Randy Marshall and I almost have the gym decorated.

Great. a surprise band tonight.

Really? Who?

Taylor, T -Bit, and Steve. They're gonna play a couple of numbers.

Nobody knows that except Marsha, Randy, and us.

All right.

It's too bad you'll miss them.

Yeah.

Everybody's gone with nobody.

You know, no dates.

Just everybody's gonna dance with everybody.

Marsha said Scout's gone, too.

Scout? Yeah, she's the band's road manager.

You know, it's really gonna be a different kind of dance.

I wish you were here.

Sure, yeah.

I just...

wanted to call and talk.

How are you guys doing?

My brother's doing great.

I'm not having much luck.

Oh, that's too bad.

So what are you guys doing tonight?

Staying around camp.

Because, you know, Saturday night's a pretty big night around here.

Start off with bingo, then there's the early bird's dinner, but then comes the

best part for me.

What's that?

Dancing. You know, I'm really a night person. We got that great jukebox over

there, and when the sun goes down, that's when the really interesting

show up.

You know, strangers just passing through off the two lanes in the interstate.

So dances start at 7, you know, if you're not too tired from fishing.

I don't even know your name.

Charlene. Nice meeting you, Charlene.

So why don't you come on down?

I can tell you're interested.

It's a real interesting book. I don't care what I can write.

Listen to this.

I took the Washington bus, wasted some time wandering around, went out of my

to see the Blue Ridge, heard the bird of the Shenandoah, and visited Stonewall

Jackson's grave.

Oh, that's the part where he sees the girl at the movie theater.

At midnight, Ashland, Kentucky, and a lonely girl under the marquee of a

-up show.

You know, I've seen that in our own town.

Walking by the BG late at night.

There's Sheila or Joanne waiting on someone.

Hey, Darren, when was the first time you did it?

What?

This place got you thinking about all kinds of things, doesn't it?

Why not? It's about experiences.

Got me thinking about things I've never done.

Things I wanted to.

And making it with the girls all of a sudden on your mind?

Well, actually...

Something I think about every day.

So when was your first time?

Oh, I just turned 15.

Played my first varsity football game.

School tradition in those days?

Every first time player got his ashes hauled out of rubies.

If we won.

We won.

She was 28 and 30, I don't know.

She washed me up, poured some 50 cent aftershave on me, and off we went.

On a very short ride.

How about you, Buck? When was your first time?

Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Up under the front porch of my grandmother's house, there was a

going on.

It was my fourth cousin, twice removed.

I was 12, and she was 14.

Dang, Buck.

You were just in the middle of puberty.

Somebody ought to catch some fish for supper. We're not going to have any food

to feed all these girls we're talking about.

Come on, Mike.

Hey,

what do you know? Our little manager's already gone to work.

Can anybody see Martha?

Oh, yeah, we saw her on the way in. She said she was going to have to get

burgers for everyone.

All right, Scout, I need your help. What for?

Greg's out there, and we need someone to rehearse with.

So get Cherry. She's the queen.

She can't. She's getting her hair done.

So? So I'm asking, will you please come out there and help us rehearse?

Please. Well, let's hear it for Queen Scout.

Your Majesty.

I beg of you.

Dance with this royal.

Queeny face.

Please, come on.

Correct.

Scouts agreed to help us rehearse.

So if you want to get up here and stand on the side of me, that'd be great.

Please.

Okay, great. So, Scout, now when I introduce you, I'll say this is the king

queen of 1966 -67 school year.

King Greg Parker and Queen Terry Valance.

And the king Valance, Val Greg.

Great. And the queen, Kirksey.

What's a Kirksey?

You know, you just kind of bend it.

Okay. All right. Now, I'll talk to you down the stairs.

So, Greg, take her in your arms.

Take her arms. Good.

Great.

Okay, and there'll be royal -type music playing, like trumpets.

And you walk out, you stop right there, and I'll say, don't they make a great

couple? There'll be lots of applause, trumpets will stop, and you'll turn and

face each other.

And Sam Cooke's Love Will Find a Way will start.

And the first dance is reserved for the king and his queen.

No, no, no, no, no, Greg, Greg, it's not a walk.

It's Sam Cooke, man.

Love Will Find a Way.

It's this.

And you look at her and you're thinking, this is the most beautiful girl in the

world.

I got it.

Hey, wait, wait, wait. Where are you going?

You haven't done the dance yet.

I just got to wake you.

Wait, there's one more thing I forgot to tell you. You have to bow before, as

the music's coming up, just give a kind of bow.

Like that. Bow? Yeah.

Great, okay.

Let's go.

A bearded.

Oh, well, let's hear it for the weenies. All right, weenies.

Parker.

You're a good dancer, Scout. You owe me a dance tonight.

Mm -hmm.

Yeah, and I'll hold you to it, too.

So this is when I got out in a little bar in Crown King, Arizona, Derry.

Gabba Pie Pete was a cow puncher, neat.

From Arizona's fair climb.

He lived in the saddle and punched most the cattle.

From here to the Mexican line.

Though he fanned his guns fast, they got him at last.

He died with his boots on his feet.

Thus the country was rid of a terrible kid.

The passing of Yabba Pipey.

Hey, you guys need anything?

Thought I'd walk down to the lodge, check out the magazines.

You know, Ponyboy, I never go camping without a Playboy magazine, so why don't

you get me one of them?

We're going to get an early start. We need some more worms and fish eggs. Hey,

no problem, guys. I'd be glad to do that.

Well, no thing. Get me a pint of brown whiskey.

Keeps you warm at night and makes me saying better.

Hey, but there's people down there who if I tell them who it's for, they'll be

fine. Oh, and Pony, no thing.

Every year I send my grandmother a postcard down to Arkansas.

So why don't I just drive you down there?

Well, I can get the postcard and write it out and mail it right there.

Well, you really don't have to do that.

Well, I suppose I might as well go along and have a beer But you see another

thing, you know, my right foot was itching.

I bet you they got foot powder at the lodge

What

are you waiting on pony this trip was your

idea

Buy me a mountain.

Buck's Mountain.

Buy me a lodge and a fishing hole like this.

And every Saturday night, I'll have a big bandit and get Soda and the boys to

play at them.

Maybe you can be my partner, Darren.

And you too, Ponyboy. All right, what do you think?

Oh, while we're dreaming, I have an easier way. Why don't they bring back

millionaire guy on that television show and come to my house first and then go

to your place, hand us a check, go fishing for the rest of our lives.

Hi, fun boy. You made it down after all.

Charlene, this is my brother Daryl.

This here is Buck Morell.

Hi. Nice to meet you.

Me too.

Have a seat. Thanks.

Charlene works here.

Been here long?

Not long. Just passing through.

Pony corner supper.

Speaking of fishing, you're going to get up mighty early tomorrow morning.

Well, why don't you say a couple of girls I know. They were here last night.

They're bound to be back tonight.

Well, like, like Derry said, fishing comes mighty early.

Ponyboy, remember I was telling you about all those interesting people who

in here?

Why don't you stay a while?

Um, well, I'm not that much of a dancer.

There's nothing to it, Ponyboy. You just lead with your left.

We'll see you back at camp, Ponyboy. It's really nice to meet you, Charlene.

Same here. Likewise.

Bye.

Take me to ho -

Well,

I guess you'll find out just how good an answer he really is.

You've been on the road ever since?

Just took off and I never looked back. I was like a gypsy.

I was free.

Guess you've been just about everywhere.

I know where I've been.

I never know where I'm going next, though.

Don't you get scared?

Being out on your own all the time?

Just by yourself?

Sometimes more lonesome than scared.

When I get too lonesome in one place, I just move on.

How about you, common boy?

Do you have dreams?

I think I'd like to be a writer.

My brothers call me a dreamer.

Because I like to see movies and read books all the time.

Especially this one I'm reading now, by Jack Kerouac.

Kind of like you, who's called On the Road.

Home in Missoula.

Home in Truckee.

Home in Appaloosa.

Ain't no home for me.

Home in Old Medora.

Home in Wounded Knee.

Home in Ogallala.

Home I'll never be.

Thank you, Mr. Kerouac.

Um...

I really should get going back to camp now.

One more dance.

Okay.

Now, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you the king and queen for

1966 -67 school year, Queen Cherry Valance and King Greg Parker.

Queen Valentine and King Parker, the dance is for you.

First time I've seen you dressed up.

You should try it more often.

Look, what you said this afternoon about us, about me having as good a time as

you when we're together, it's true.

So?

So I was scared.

I wanted to go farther, too.

We could never have gone as far as we did if you hadn't let me.

But that wasn't because of you, Greg.

It was exciting. It was dangerous. Hey, you want to date other guys so you can

find out how exciting and dangerous it is with them?

You're my guest.

Like that greaser Tim Shepard?

Let's get a picture of you two.

Terrific.

Beth, let's just follow the music.

You sure do smell good.

Thanks.

I love perfumes. I collect them.

How old are you, Pawnee boy?

Fifteen.

How old are you?

How old do you want me to be?

Um, I don't know.

Probably the same age as me.

Our king's always ready. You guys ready? You're all set?

Let's kick some butt.

Let's do it.

Okay, now for the big surprise of the evening. Tonight, we're really, really

lucky to have a special live group with us. They've only been playing together

for about four weeks. So here they are. Let's give a big welcome to Walker

Ridge's very own... The Northside Greaser Band.

What you have done.

Oh, see.

See, see right up.

See what you have done.

Love me true, all my dreams fulfilled.

For my darling, I love you,

and I always will.

Love me tender,

love me long.

For it's there that I belong and

will never part.

Love me tender, love me true.

I take something with me from almost every place I stop.

Sometimes if I find someone I care about, I even steal a heart.

My old trunk keeps getting fuller.

The perfumes and purses, they always make me feel like a lady.

I don't carry much else, though.

Travel light.

Read a book, I find a library.

Maybe I'll read one of yours one day for you, boy.

Maybe I'll even be in one.

You're up bright and early.

Yeah, you want some coffee?

Yeah, sure.

To tell you the truth, I just got here.

We started dancing and talking.

Time just took off, Derry.

Before I know it, the sun was coming up.

Must be awfully tired.

Actually, I feel great.

At breakfast, I told Darian Buck about the whole night.

But I wasn't scared.

I really wasn't.

Nothing like that.

She made me feel so good.

We talked until I fell asleep.

When I woke up, she was holding me in her arms.

I don't know, this puberty thing gets so confusing.

I think I made the right decision.

I think.

All I know is that I'll never forget Charlene Walker.

Somewhere along the line, I knew there'd be girls, Kerouac wrote.

Visions. Everything.

Somewhere along the line, the pearl would be handed to me.

I guess that means I'm starting to find my own road.

My own way.

My own pearl.

Homer Simpson here. And Bart Simpson here to tell you that tonight we've got

all -new episode of my show. Bart! Of our show, The Simpsons. It's a very

and yet somehow touching episode.

Whoa! Can the crocodile tears, man? Later, it's the premiere of a totally

hilarious new series in living color.

Now stay tuned for America's Most Wanted, next.