Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
The CAR BOY pulls up with a screech. DUKE jumps in. The back seat is stacked with bars of Neutrogena, piles of Mint 400 t-shirts, boxes of grapefruit.
DUKE (V/O CONT’D) Luckily, I had taken the soap and grapefruit and other luggage out to the car a few hours earlier. Now it was only a matter of slipping the noose…
DUKE shifts into drive. Deliverance!
CLERK’S VOICE MR. DUKE!
DUKE freezes.
CLERK’S VOICE Mr. Duke! We’ve been looking for you!
DUKE (V/O) The game was up! They had me.
DUKE (to himself) Well, why not? Many fine books have been written in prison. 55.
Resigned, DUKE turns off the ignition. A young CLERK arrives breathlessly with a smile and a YELLOW LETTER IN HIS HAND.
CLERK Sir? (thrusts out a TELEGRAM) This telegram came for you. Actually, it isn’t for you. It’s for somebody named Thompson, but it says ‘care of Raoul Duke’. does that make sense?
DUKE (barely able to speak) Yes… It makes sense.
DUKE stuffs the telegram into his top pocket.
The CLERK peers into the car — sees part of the enormous stash inside.
CLERK I checked the register for this man Thompson. We don’t show him but I figured he might be part of your team.
DUKE He is. Don’t worry, I’ll get it to him.
He fires up the engine — eases the RED SHARK into low gear.
SECURITY GUARDS are looking across — sharing a quiet word or two.
CLERK What confused us was Dr. Gonzo’s signature on the telegram from Los Angeles. When we knew he was right here in the hotel.
DUKE You did the right thing. Never try to understand a press message. About half the time we use codes — especially with Dr. Gonzo.
CLERK Tell me. When will the doctor be awake? 56.
DUKE (tenses) Awake? What do you mean?
DUKE’s eyes are on the SECURITY GUARDS — moving closer.
CLERK (uncomfortably) Well… the manager, Mr. Heem, would like to meet him. Nothing unusual. Mr. Heem likes to meet all our large accounts… put them on a personal basis… just a chat and a handshake, you understand.
DUKE Of course. But if I were you, I’d leave the Doctor alone until after he’s eaten breakfast. He’s a very crude man.
DUKE edges the car forward, but is stopped by the CLERK.
CLERK But he will be available? Perhaps later this morning?
DUKE Look. That telegram was all scrambled. It was actually from Thompson, not to him. Western Union must have gotten the names reversed. I have to get going. I have to get out to the track.
CLERK There’s no hurry! The race is over!
DUKE (taking off) Not for me.
He waves the CLERK off the car — roars away.
CLERK Let’s have lunch!
DUKE Righto!
EXT. ROAD OUT OF VEGAS – DAY
DUKE drives the RED SHARK out of Vegas. 57.
A “YOU ARE LEAVING LAS VEGAS” sign flashes past.
Bob Dylan plays: “Memphis Blues Again — “Aaww, Mama, can this really by the end…?”
A sign: LOS ANGELES — 400 miles.
DUKE (V/O) Jesus, bad waves of paranoia, madness, fear and loathing — intolerable vibrations in this place. Get out! The weasels were closing in. I could smell the ugly brutes. Flee!
DUKE drives fast.
DUKE Do me one last favor Lord: just give me five more high-speed hours before you bring the hammer down; just let me get rid of this goddamn car and off of this horrible desert.
A sign flashes “YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE.”
A patrol car pulls out behind him, lights flashing.
DUKE (CONT’D) You evil bastard! This is your work! You’d better take care of me, Lord… because if you don’t you’re going to have me on your hands.
The patrol car screams after the RED SHARK.
DUKE (V/O) Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a Highway Traffic Cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side. This is wrong.
DUKE floors the gas pedal.
DUKE (V/O) It arouses contempt in the cop heart.
THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMBS STEADILY. 58.
DUKE (V/O) Make the bastard chase you. He will follow. But he won’t know what to make of your blinker signal that says you’re about to turn right.
DUKE signals right. The RED SHARK screams at 120 mph.
DUKE (V/O) This is to let him know you’re looking for a proper place to pull off and talk.
AN EXIT OFF RAMP: MAX SPEED 25.
DUKE hits the brakes. The COP brakes.
DUKE (V/O) It will take him a moment to realize that he is about to make 180 degree turn at speed… but you will be ready for it, braced for the G’s and the fast heel toe work.
The patrol car spins and fishtails crazily out of control.
EXT. SCENIC PICNIC AREA – DAY
The patrol car comes skidding around the corner. DUKE stands beside the RED SHARK, completely relaxed and smiling.
The HIGHWAY PATROLMAN gets out of the car, screaming.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN Just what the FUCK did you think you were doing?!
DUKE smiles.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN May I see your license.
DUKE Of course, officer.
DUKE reaches for it. And BOTH MEN look down at a beer can — which DUKE had, somehow, forgotten was in his hand.
DUKE (V/O) I knew I was fucked.
The COP relaxes — actually smiles… He reaches out for DUKE’s wallet, then holds out his other hand for the beer. 59.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN Could I have that, please?
DUKE Why not? It was getting warm anyway.
The HIGHWAY PATROLMAN takes it, pours out the beer — glances in the back seat of the RED SHARK. Amongst the bars of soap… A case of warm beer. DUKE smiles back at him.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN You realize…
DUKE Yeah. I know. I’m guilty. I understand that. I knew it was a crime but I did it anyway. Shit, why argue? I’m a fucking criminal.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN That’s a strange attitude.
He looks at DUKE thoughtfully.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN You know — I get the feeling you could use a nap. There’s a rest area up ahead. Why don’t you pull over and sleep a few hours?
DUKE A nap won’t help. I’ve been awake for too long — three or four nights. I can’t even remember. If I go to sleep now, I’m dead for twenty hours.
The HIGHWAY PATROLMAN smiles.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN Okay. Here’s how it is. What goes into my book, as of noon, is that I apprehended you… for driving too fast, and advised you to proceed no further than the next rest area… your stated destination, right? Where you plan to take a long nap. Do I make myself clear?
DUKE How far is Baker? I was hoping to stop there for lunch. 60.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN Not my jurisdiction. The city limits are two point two miles beyond the rest area. Can you make it that far?
DUKE I’ll try. I’ve been wanting to go to Baker for a long time. I’ve heard a lot about it.
The PATROLMAN holds the door for DUKE who gets in.
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN Excellent seafood. With a mind like yours, you’ll probably want to try the land-crab. Try the Majestic Diner.
The PATROLMAN slams the door shut.
EXT. DESERT ROAD – DAY
DUKE drives away — teeth gritted.
DUKE (V/O) I felt raped. The Pig had done me on all fronts, and now he was going off to chuckle about it — on the west side of town, waiting for me to make a run for L.A.
DUKE drives past the rest area to an intersection where he signals to turn right into Baker. As he approaches the turn he sees the HITCHHIKER! As DUKE slows to make the turn their eyes meet. DUKE is about to wave — but the HITCHHIKER drops his thumb.
DUKE Great Jesus, it’s him.
DUKE, spooked, SPINS THE RED SHARK round — ROARS BACK THE WAY HE CAME.
EXT. BAKER TRUCK STOP – DAY
DUKE on the public phone booth — screaming.
