Midnight Cowboy

Screenplay byWaldo Salt

Based on the novel byJames Leo Herlihy

LAFS Scene StudyFilm Production 2 Course323.860.0789Copyrighted material for educational use only

INT. EVERETT'S BAR - DAY

JOE sits at the bar, staring morosely at his image in themirror, already quite drunk, oblivious to the assorted typeshiding from daylight in the barn-like saloon, waiting fornight to fall.

RATSO'S VOICEExcuse me, I'm just admiring thatcolossal shirt...

RATSO studies Joe across the corner of the bar — a sickly,child-size old man of twenty-one — hopefully nursing anempty beer glass, contemplating the money on the bar in frontof Joe.

RATSOThat is one hell of a shirt. I betyou paid a pretty price for it, amI right?

JOEOh, it ain't cheap. I mean, yeah,I'd say this was an all rightshirt. Don't like to, uh, you know,have a lot of cheap stuff on myback.

Ratso spits as JACKIE leans on the bar next to Joe — afeminine young person, heavily made-up, hair teased, wearingearrings and a lace-trimmed blouse over shocking pink levis.

JACKIEGot a cigarette, cowboy?

RATSO(a stage whisper)

More goddam faggots in this town.

Reaching for a cigarette, Joe glances at Jackie, startled asJackie twitches his pink levis angrily and turns away.

JOEShee-it...

(shakes his head)Kee-rist, you really know theropes. Wish to hell I bumped intoyou before. I'm Joe Buck from Texasand I'm gonna buy you a drink, whatdo you say to that?

RATSOEnrico Rizzo from the Bronx. Don'tmind if I do.

2/7/11 Midnight Cowboy 2.

JOE(slaps bar)

Same all around! For my friend,too!

Jackie actively ignores Joe and Rizzo, flirting with a tallfarm boy with who watches the TV over the bar.

RATSOScrew them. Come on.

Ratso moves to a booth now. Joe takes the beers and a coupleof glasses and follows.

LATER:

Joe is refilling Ratso's beer glass as he speaks.

JOESo this broad, she got a penthouseup there with color TV and moregoddam diamonds than an archbishopand she busts out bawling when Iask for money!

RATSOFor what?

JOEFor money.

RATSOFor money for what?

JOEI'm a hustler, hell, didn't youknow that?

RATSOHow would I know? You gotta tell aperson these things

(shakes his head)A hustler? Picking up trade on thestreet like that — baby, believeme — you need management.

JOEI think you just put your finger onit, I do.

RATSOMy friend 0'Daniel. That's who youneed. Operates the biggest stablein town.

(MORE)

2/7/11 Midnight Cowboy 3.

RATSO (CONT'D)In the whole goddam metropolitanarea. A stud like you - paying! —not that I blame you — a damestarts crying, I cut my heart forher...

JACKIE'S VOICEI'd call that a very minoroperation...

Ratso grabs the neck of a bottle, sliding back in the booth.Joe scowls as Jackie appears with the tall farm boy.

JACKIE...in fact, you just sit comfy andI'11 cut it out with my fingernailfile. You won't even need BlueCross, Ratso,

RATSOThe name is Rizzo.

JACKIEThat's what I said, Ratso.

JOE(suddenly)

Hey now, you heard him.

RATSOThat's okay, Joe. I'm used to thesetypes that like to pick oncripples. Sewers're full of ' em.

JACKIEMay I ask one thing, cowboy? If yousit there and he sits way overthere, how's he gonna get his handinto your pocket? But I'm sure hehas that all figured out...

(to Ratso)Good night, sweets.

JOEListen, mister...

Jackie exits, blowing Ratso a kiss

RATSO...it's ok, Joe.

JOEAin't no call to be...

2/7/11 Midnight Cowboy 4.

RATSO(changing the subject)

...See, with these chicks that wantto buy it, most of 'em are older,dignified, right? Social registertypes. They can't be trotting downto Times Square to pick out themerchandise. They need a middleman,right? That's 0'Daniel.

Ratso points toward a well-dressed young man sitting at thebar. Ratso waves jauntily at the young man, raising his thumband forefinger in a circle, leaving the young man baffled.

RATSO (CONT'D)Him I placed with 0'Daniel just twoweeks ago. And look. Not much of astud either, what I hear...

JOEHey, listen, how about you take meto see this Mister 0'Diddle birdright now?

RATSOWell, Joe, you're a nice guy, andI'd be doing you both a favor, butwhy? What I wanna be dragging mybum leg all over town for? It's nopicnic and what for, for me myself,what? Tomorrow when some piece'11be scratching your back in a FifthAvenue townhouse, where'11 your palRizzo be? Nedicks.

JOEHold it, just hold it. You thinkI'm that kinda sombitch? Just nameyour cut, whatever you want, yougot it right now. Five? Ten, how'sthat?

Joe peels a ten from his wallet and offers it to Ratso.

RATSOJoe, please. You know what I'd askanyone else? Oh hell, tell you whatI'll do, I'll take the ten...

(he does)but when I hand you over to Mr.0'Daniel, I'll have to have anotherten, Joe; just to like coverexpenses...