FADE IN:

THE HIGHWAY - DAY

Georgia. Two-lane blacktop, stretching from here to heaven.

Empty. Silent. Then, suddenly in the far distance, several

dark specks rise over a hill and head straight toward camera.

Camera holds and the specks begin to take form. Vehicles.

Trucks. Six monstrous eighteen-wheel diesels, coming at us,

their smokestacks blasting. Sound grows louder, as we begin

to hear snatches of Citizens Band Radio talk over:

VOICE ONE

-- Breaker, this is Banana Peel...

VOICE TWO

-- Yeah, Breaker go head on.

VOICE ONE

-- Thanks much. I’d like to get me a

Smokey report?

VOICE TWO

-- Road looks clean as a hound’s

tooth.

VOICE ONE

-- Okey, doke. Last one to the Roadeo

is a homo.

Voices fade and titles and credits begin. "Black Smoke Blowing

Over Eighteen Wheels" by Red Simpson comes up in the b.g. as

the six trucks blast right over camera.

AN AERIAL VIEW

of the trucks driving through an entrance gate to a huge

parking lot. Over the gate is a sign reading: "GEORGIA TRUCK

ROADEO STATE FINALS." Music and credits continue.

TRUCK ROADEO - PARKING LOT - DAY

Macks, Kenworths, Whites and Jimmys, all polished to a

mirrored finish. Truck drivers decked out in their flashiest

western outfits. The stands filled with spectators on the

edge of their seats, watching the gearjammers put their rigs

through tests of skill and reflexes -- parallel parking,

driving around eggs, through complicated barricades, etc.

CAMERA PICKS UP

a customized white Cadillac convertible pulling into the

Roadeo grounds. The Caddy has mounted chrome quarter horses

on each front fender, bull horns on the front bumper, stacked

rifles displayed in the rear. Garish. The car’s Texas license

plate reads "Mr. Big."

CLOSER ANGLE

The Cadillac stops. Two men climb out and wend their way

through the trucks and spectators. Camera tracks behind them.

Although we can’t see their faces, we see that one man is

pudgy and decked out in a fancy white western suit and hat.

The other is younger, tall, skinny and wearing a grey western

suit and hat. Kyle Brand and his son Dickey.

MUSIC AND CREDITS FADE

ANGLE - ROADEO INFIELD

The crowd roars, as the trucks race through an obstacle

course.

ANGLE - THE MEN - TRACKING

Camera still on their backs.

DICKEY

(referring to race)

Is that Bandit in the lead?

KYLE

If that sumbitch was in the race,

he’d be in the winner’s circle by

now.

DICKEY

I still think this whole idea is

dumb, pop.

KYLE

Then it must be a helluva idea.

Kyle laughs. His laugh then turns into a hacking cough.

DICKEY

Why don’t we just rent a Lear jet

and haul it back ourselves?

KYLE

Because I wanna see this hot shot

Bandit do something that can’t be

done. Besides, there’s nothing I

like better than breaking legends.

He laughs, coughs again, continues walking.

DICKEY

(not getting it)

But if it can’t be done, how’s he

gonna do it?

KYLE

That’s the point, Dickey.

DICKEY

Oh.

KYLE

Now, you just find him, son.

DICKEY

Yes, sir.

Dickey crosses to a trucker couple, polishing up their chromed

rig.

DICKEY

Say, hoss. Where might I locate the

Bandit?

HUSBAND

Ain’t seen him.

WIFE

(immediately)

Over there behind his rig.

The Husband shoots his old lady a jealous look. Dickey rejoins

Kyle and they head toward Bandit LaRue’s truck.

NEW ANGLE - MOVING

as they come to the only battered, beaten-up eighteen-wheeler

at the entire Truck Roadeo. It looks like it hasn’t been

washed since it left the showroom.

On one side of the truck is a faded and peeling mural of a

stagecoach being held up. A teamster and a shotgun guard

have their hands high in the air and a Bandit on horseback

has a six-gun pointed at them.

An elaborate CB radio antenna grows out of the cab beside

the driver’s door.

ANGLE - KYLE AND DICKEY - FROM BEHIND

as they round the truck and stop in their tracks.

REVERSE ANGLE - WHAT THEY SEE

A hammock is stretched from the cab of the truck to an oak

tree. A man wearing a faded denim western shirt, open with

the sleeves rolled up, levis and silver-toed cowboy boots is

lying in the hammock. A cowboy hat covers his face.

CLOSER ANGLE

as shadows fall across the figure. The man slowly tips back

his hat and we see he’s in his thirties, boyishly handsome,

with a cocky smile. Bandit LaRue.

FULL SHOT

And for the first time we get a look at Kyle and Dickey.

Kyle is wearing sunglasses and diamond rings on every finger.

His smile is as tasteless as the suit he wears.

Dickey is in his early twenties. Blonde, blue-eyed and scared

to death of his old man.

Bandit looks at them for a moment, then casually pulls the

hat back over his face.

KYLE

Aw, ain’t you glad to see me, Bandit?

BANDIT

(hat over his face)

Yeah, it’s the highlight of my day.

There’s a long pause interrupted by Kyle’s hacking cough.

KYLE

(to Dickey)

What’s he get if he wins here?

BANDIT

(hat over his face)

If...?

DICKEY

Five thou.

KYLE

Chickenshit money.

Kyle coughs again.

BANDIT

(hat over his face)

Could you turn your head?

Bandit gets up and begins untying the hammock from the tree.

Kyle crosses to him.

BANDIT

Look, Kyle; I ain’t in this Truck

Roadeo for the money. It’s the

challenge. You know, the ecstasy of

victory, the agony of defeat.

Kyle looks out at the cheering crowd.

KYLE

I can’t believe there’s two thousand

people here to watch a bunch of guys

back up their trucks.

BANDIT

America’s bored.

(then)

Now, what do you want?

KYLE

You to forget this dumbass Roadeo

and take on a real challenge.

As Bandit turns to him, we:

CUT TO:

BANDIT’S TRUCK - DAY

Bandit, wearing aviator shades and his cowboy hat, is backing

the truck up and shouting down to Kyle and Dickey on the

ground.

BANDIT

You’re crazy, man. Smart dresser,

but crazy.

KYLE

What’s the matter? Legend has it

Bandit LaRue’s king of the road.

BANDIT

I can make it to Texarkana and back

in twenty-eight hours... that’s no

sweat.

DICKEY

It ain’t ever been done before, hot

shit.

BANDIT

(smiles at Dickey,

then)

See, running Coors Beer east of Texas

is what bothers me. It makes me a

bootlegger.

KYLE

I hear a few weeks ago you smuggled

sixteen Beaners up to West Virginia.

BANDIT

You know how rumors start.

DICKEY

I think you’re just yellow.

BANDIT

Wonderful psychology. Why don’t you

say something about my mom?

(then)

Excuse me.

Bandit drives toward the starting line for another event.

Kyle and Dickey run alongside.

KYLE

(coughs, then)

Look, you make this little run for

me, I’ll buy you a new rig.

BANDIT

(indicating truck)

Last year, this was a new rig.

KYLE

But it wasn’t a Kenworth.

Dickey turns to his father, stunned, as Bandit stops the

truck.

DICKEY

(sotto)

Pop, a K-Whopper’s worth seventy

thou.

BANDIT

(correcting)

Seventy-two five.

(then)

Why do you want this barley pop so

bad?

DICKEY

He’s thirsty.

Bandit smiles at Dickey again.

KYLE

I got a boy running in the Peach

Tree Classic tomorrow and when he

wins, I wanna celebrate in style.

BANDIT

How much style?

KYLE

Four hundred cases worth.

(a long pause)

Well?

BANDIT

(a beat)

You paying for the gas?

Kyle smiles that unwinning smile and takes out a huge wad of

bills, as we:

CUT TO:

GEORGIA COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

Picturesque. Bandit’s eighteen-wheeler rolling down the

Georgia highway, past lush green meadows and endless acres

of pines.

Over this:

A WOMAN’S VOICE

Whaddya mean, we’re not going to the

show tonight?

INSIDE THE TRUCK (DIALOGUE OVERLAPS)

And for the first time, we get a real look inside the rig.

It’s quite a set-up. The opposite of the outside. Home on

the road.

Sheepskin over the two front seats, a poster of Raquel Welch

in a bikini tacked above the windshield, under which is a

bumper sticker reading: "Do It For Truckers." On the dash

board, a St. Christopher medal and a chattering skull. Also,

a stereo tape deck and the best Citizens Band Radio outfit

money can buy.

Bandit is on the C.B.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Hot Pants, I got no choice. I gotta

make a run to Texarkana. Over.

WOMAN’S VOICE

(over CB)

But you been promising to take me

for three weeks.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Baby, I...

MALE VOICE

(over CB)

Break. Break.

WOMAN’S VOICE

(over CB)

Yeah, breaker; come on.

MALE VOICE

(over CB)

Hot Pants, this here is Sugar Man.

I’ll take you to the show tonight.

Pick you up at seven. How am I hitting

you?

WOMAN’S VOICE

(over CB)

Bull’s-eye, Sugar Man. Bandit?

BANDIT

(into mike)

Yeah?

WOMAN’S VOICE

(over CB)

Go sit on a cold carrot.

Bandit looks at the mike and we:

CUT TO:

RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY

Bandit’s truck pulls to a stop in front of a small white

clapboard house.

CUT TO:

A FEW MINUTES LATER - INSIDE THE HOUSE

Most of the furniture is old and what isn’t, is covered with

plastic. No fancy carpets or objects d’art. On the coffee

table is an open, colorfully illustrated Bible. A blonde

wood television set sits in a corner of the room. There are

a lot of toy trucks lying around and over the mantel is an

oil painting of a fancy eighteen-wheeler with an epitaph

under it reading: "I’d rather be a truck driver, than be a

millionaire..."

Bandit is trying to get into the bedroom, but his path is

being blocked by a faded Georgia beauty lost somewhere in

her thirties. Waynette Snow.

BANDIT

(trying to get past

her)

Goddamn, Waynette; you sure do look

foxy today. If you weren’t already

married, I’d...

WAYNETTE

Don’t give me that horseshit, Bandit.

You ain’t seeing him.

BANDIT

(determined)

Yes, I am.

WAYNETTE

(equally determined)

No, you ain’t.

A scrawny little Kid runs through the room, followed by an

even scrawnier mutt.

SCRAWNY KID

Hi, Uncle Bandit.

WAYNETTE

(turning to Kid)

He ain’t your damn uncle and get

that mutt outta here. He just peed

all over my hot curlers!

Bandit takes the moment to slide past Waynette and duck into

the bedroom.

THE BEDROOM

is dark. The venetian blinds are drawn. Bandit hurries into

the room with Waynette still hollering in the b.g.

He passes a French Provincial dresser with a small fleet of

model trucks on top and crosses to a Lump sleeping face down

on a double bed.

BANDIT

(shaking the Lump)

Cledus.

CLEDUS

(not moving)

No.

BANDIT

(shaking him again)

Wake up, man; I just got us a hot

run for big bucks.

Bandit goes to the closet and begins tossing clothes onto

the bed.

CLEDUS

(slowly rolling over)

Whadda we have to do -- kidnap the

Pope?

BANDIT (O.S.)

(from closet)

How’d you know?

He comes out of the closet with the rest of the clothes and

tosses them on the bed, then crosses to the dresser drawer

and throws a pair of socks and underwear at Cledus.

BANDIT

Look, all we gotta do is make a run

to Texarkana...

(under his breath)

...in twenty-eight hours.

Cledus Snow slowly comes up from under the covers and we get

our first glimpse of him. He’s thirty-three, but you’d never

take him for a day under forty. Trucker all the way. He’s

wearing boxer shorts and an undershirt. As he reaches across

to the nightstand and puts on a pair of glasses:

CLEDUS

Twenty-eight hours! You’re outta

your gord.

BANDIT

Is that any way to talk to your ole

partner?

(pulling back blanket)

Look, it’s only nine hundred miles

each way.

CLEDUS

(figuring quick)

That means we gotta average ninetyfour

miles per.

(lying back down)

Forget it.

BANDIT

No one’s ever done it before. This’ll

put us on the map.

CLEDUS

Or in the slammer.

BANDIT

Did I tell you they’re gonna give us

a brand new Kenworth?

CLEDUS

(sitting up)

Waynette!

CUT TO:

OUTSIDE CLEDUS’ HOUSE - DAY

Bandit sits inside the cab of the truck, nervously tapping

his foot and watching Cledus’ kids play football on the front

lawn. The mutt keeps getting in their way.

Bandit hits the horn and an instant later, Cledus steps onto

the front porch, followed by Waynette. He’s wearing a plaid

shirt, levis, a large engraved cowboy belt and a thermal

vest.

WAYNETTE

(handing him a thermos)

This ain’t fair. You’re letting him

talk you into this.

CLEDUS

(buttoning shirt)

I swear to God, pumpkin; I’ll be

back before you know it.

(sly smile)

And then I’ll make you glad you was

born a woman.

WAYNETTE

Well, I just might not be waiting

this time.

Bandit toots again. Waynette gives him "the finger."

CLEDUS

Honey, please... Don’t be this way.

You know I’d do anything for you.

WAYNETTE

Anything?

Cledus nods.

WAYNETTE

Take Fred.

CUT TO:

GEORGIA HIGHWAY - LATE AFTERNOON

The eighteen-wheeler heading west, stacks open.

Over:

CLEDUS (V.O.)

Believe me, man; Fred’ll be no

problem.

BANDIT (V.O.)

Yeah, I can tell he’s gonna be a

major asset.

INSIDE THE CAB (DIALOGUE OVERLAPS)

Fred, the mutt, lays with his head slumped over Bandit’s

leg. Cledus is at the wheel, wearing clip-on sunglasses.

BANDIT

All right, Fred; enough fun.

Bandit picks Fred up and dumps him onto the sleeper

compartment behind the seats. Then, starts going over a road

map.

CLEDUS

You know of course, we ain’t ever

gonna make it.

BANDIT

(not looking up)

Quit being so negative, guy; ’course

we’re gonna make it. We ain’t never

not made it, have we?

CLEDUS

No.

BANDIT

See.

CLEDUS

Our asses gonna be in a sling if we

get caught.

BANDIT

(looking up, straight

to him)

And if we don’t, they’re gonna be

riding high in a brand new Kenworth.

As "Truck Driving Man" by Red Steagall starts over, Cledus

looks at Bandit, sighs -- then punches it.

DISSOLVE THRU TO:

A SERIES OF LAP DISSOLVES - THE EIGHTEEN-WHEELER

roaring down the highway. Music continues, as slowly day

becomes night and the truck whizzes across the Alabama and

Mississippi State Lines.

DISSOLVE THRU TO:

THE HIGHWAY - NIGHT

The rig is parked on the shoulder under a highway light.

Bandit and Cledus stand by the side of the truck, as Fred

wanders aimlessly around the grassy knoll off the shoulder.

BANDIT

(snapping his fingers

impatiently)

How long’s this gonna take?

CLEDUS

I don’t know, man. Ask him?

BANDIT

(nervously)

We gotta let the slack out, Cledus;

this is costing us time.

CLEDUS

If you ask me, I think we should

make that run to Choo Choo Town and

pick up that load of lumber. Nice.

Easy. And within the law.

BANDIT

Also boring.

CLEDUS

But I still don’t think...

Bandit walks away from Cledus in mid-sentence, heading for

the rear of the truck.

CLEDUS

What are you doin’ now?

BANDIT

(starting to open

rear doors)

Running blocker.

CUT TO:

THE BACK DOORS OF THE TRUCK

As Bandit swings them open, Cledus adjusts one of two ramps

that have now been mounted on the rear of the truck’s floor.

As Cledus kicks the ramp into place, Bandit climbs into the

back of the trailer and disappears.

After a moment, there is a deafening roar and suddenly, two

headlights are GLARING straight at camera.

NEW ANGLE

A beat and slowly, a full-blown SHELBY COBRA II appears from

inside the truck. As it moves slowly down the ramp, we see

it has twelve coats of black lacquer, red pinstriping,

aluminum mags, twelve-inch Firestones, the works. A mean

machine.

On the rear bumper is a CB antenna matching the one on the

truck.

CAMERA FOLLOWS

as Bandit guides the Cobra down the ramp. Cledus quickly

folds up the ramp and dumps it back into the truck. He slams

the metal doors closed and crosses to the Cobra.

CLEDUS

All right, here’s our plan of

communication, so as to avoid Smokey.

BANDIT

Go.

CLEDUS

Now, if I say go to channel three,

it really means go to six.

BANDIT

(nods)

Six. Got it.

CLEDUS

If I say go to twenty-one, go to

nineteen.

BANDIT

(trying to remember)

Twenty-one is nineteen.

CLEDUS

If I say go to two, it’s really one.

BANDIT

(now totally confused)

Two is one.

(then)

Listen, let’s just stay on the odd

channels and switch everytime. Start

in the basement. Now, let’s haul

ass.

Cledus grabs Fred, who’s still peeing and bounds up the metal

steps of the cab. As Bandit lays twenty feet of rubber, we:

CUT TO:

MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY - NIGHT

The Cobra followed by the Eighteen-wheeler whip past camera.

(NOTE: From this point on, the Cobra will be referred to as

Bandit I. The Eighteen-wheeler as Bandit II.)

INSIDE BANDIT I (THE COBRA)

The car is cherry. Wooden steering wheel, all leather

upholstery stereo tape deck, harness-style seat belts and a

CB radio identical to the one in Bandit II.

Bandit is talking to Cledus on the CB.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Bandit One, am I hitting you?

INTERCUT - BANDIT II (THE EIGHTEEN-WHEELER)

Cledus picks up his mike. Fred is now riding shotgun.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

You’re wall to wall and tree top

tall.

BANDIT

(into mike)

I’m gonna run a couple miles ahead

of you. Keep both feet on the floor.

We’ll be moving ninety and over.

CLEDUS

(into mike; after a

beat)

Bandit?

BANDIT

(into mike)

Yeah?

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Why are we doing this?

BANDIT

(a beat, then into

mike)

Because they said it couldn’t be

done.

And:

DISSOLVE TO:

THE HIGHWAY - NIGHT

Bandit I and II screaming through the Mississippi night.

Over this a driving Doug Kershaw fiddle.

INSIDE BANDIT

Bandit driving, sipping coffee from a thermos. Sees something.

HIS VIEW - UP AHEAD

A Mississippi Highway Patrol Car is approaching from the

opposite direction.

BACK TO BANDIT

as he eases up on the pedal and fires up his CB mike.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Bandit Two, do you read me?

Bandit glances up in his rear view mirror.

ANGLE - THROUGH REAR VIEW MIRROR

The Mississippi HPC, zips past Bandit and moves on down the

highway.

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II (DIALOGUE OVERLAPS)

Cledus picks up his mike.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Loud and clear.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Pull your hammer back, Smokey’s coming

at you.

Cledus immediately backs off the accelerator and slows down,

an instant before the Mississippi HPC passes by. Everything

is cool.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

He’s history.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Okay, we got a straight shot to T

Town, so let her roll.

And we:

DISSOLVE TO:

SERIES OF SHOTS

As night slowly begins fading back into day, Bandit I and

Bandit II blast across the Arkansas State Line.

DISSOLVE TO:

THE SUN RISING

behind a sign that reads: Welcome to Texarkana, Texas. A

beat and two blurs whip past camera. Bandit I and II.

CUT TO:

THE WAREHOUSE - DAWN

Bandit I followed by Bandit II pull into the loading area of

a large warehouse.

The place is locked up and the loading dock is empty. Bandit

and Cledus park their vehicles and climb out.

BANDIT

Shit! No one’s here.

CLEDUS

(checking watch)

That’s ’cause we’re damn near an

hour ahead of schedule.

BANDIT

Let’s keep it that way.

Bandit grabs a crowbar from Bandit I and we:

CUT TO:

INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE

Pitch black. A beat, then a loud smash o.s. and the door

slides open, sending a stream of light across the warehouse

floor.

Bandit and Cledus step inside. Bandit crosses to the light

switch and hits it. Suddenly the entire room is bathed in

flourescent. We see the warehouse is filled with cases upon

cases of Coors Beer.

CLEDUS

(whistles low)

Liquid gold.

BANDIT

(nods)

Redneck heaven.

They cross back to the large sliding door and as Bandit pushes

it open, Cledus jumps into the truck’s cab and begins backing

the big rig up to the loading dock.

CUT TO:

THE WAREHOUSE - A FEW MINUTES LATER

The rig’s doors are open and ready for loading. Cledus and

Bandit cross to a brand new fork-lift.

CLEDUS

You know how to drive one of these

things?

BANDIT

Can a pig whistle?

Bandit climbs into the seat of the fork-lift and turns the

key. The engine roars to life. He grins and confidently throws

it into gear. The fork-lift leaps backward and begins speeding

wildly around the warehouse.

CLEDUS

(yelling)

Hit the brakes!

BANDIT

They’re jammed!

RUNNING ANGLE - FOLLOWING THE FORK-LIFT

as it smashes into stacks of Coors cases, sending them flying

in every direction and tossing Bandit out of the seat -- and

into the air.

NEW ANGLE

as Bandit crashes to the ground, surrounded by cases of beer.

He looks up to Cledus.

BANDIT

So much for whistling pigs.

CUT TO:

INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE - TWENTY MINUTES LATER

Bandit II is now almost filled with cases of Coors, as Cledus

guides the fork-lift’s final load onto the loading dock. He

and Bandit unload the final cases and Cledus parks the forklift.

They look around. The place is a wreck.

BANDIT

Let’s get the hell outta here.

CLEDUS

Shouldn’t we pay ’em for the damages?

BANDIT

(snaps his fingers)

Right. Give me your pen. We’ll tell

’em to bill Kyle.

As Bandit pulls out a piece of paper and Cledus hands him a

pen, we:

DISSOLVE TO:

THE TEXARKANA CITY LIMITS SIGN - MORNING

as again, two blurs flash past camera, moving south. Bandit

I and Bandit II -- heading home.

DISSOLVE TO:

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY - HIGH SHOT

It’s now mid-morning, as Camera follows Bandit I and II

rolling through hog country.

OVER:

BANDIT

(over CB)

We still on schedule?

CLEDUS

(over CB)

Forty-two minutes ahead.

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING (DIALOGUE OVERLAPS)

Bandit holding the CB mike.

BANDIT

(into mike)

I hate to say I told you so.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Save it. We got a long haul.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Clear and rolling.

He hangs up the mike, then sees something ahead of him he

can’t believe.

WHAT HE SEES

Standing in the middle of the highway is a GIRL in a wedding

gown. Off to the side, on the shoulder, is a customized Camaro

with a "Just Married" sign on the back and strings of tin

cans, shoes and streamers. The hood of the Camaro is up.

BACK TO SCENE

as Bandit eases off the accelerator and starts to move around

the Girl.

But the Girl moves with him, waving and blocking his path.

Bandit’s forced to pull off the road and stop. The Girl rushes

up to the Cobra and opens the door.

GIRL

(climbing in)

Thanks.

BANDIT

(it was nothing)

Hey...

The Girl slams the door and turns to Bandit. She’s tall and

sophisticated. A hyper New Yorker in her late twenties. KATE

McCONNELL.

FULL SHOT

as Bandit I pulls away in a cloud of dust and squealing tires,

a beat-up VAN passes, going the other way.

THREE SHITKICKER KIDS are riding in the Van. They watch Bandit

leaving the abandoned "Just Married" car and brake to turn

around. Bandit and Kate don’t notice.

INSIDE BANDIT I - DAY - MOVING

picking up speed.

BANDIT

(after a beat)

Who’s the unlucky guy?

Kate takes off her veil and shakes down her hair. She’s a

beauty. Bandit immediately notices, but keeps driving. She

starts talking a mile-a-minute.

KATE

Okay. I was in Texas dancing in an

industrial show for Sunkist Oranges.

They say I’m the new Anita Bryant.

But I’m really a dancer from New

York. A lot of credits. Moderate

talent.

(rolling on)

Anyway, after opening night, I was

walking back to the motor lodge and

suddenly there he was. A tall Texan

with a twenty-nine inch waist. Pure

dynamite.

BANDIT

All sound reasons for matrimony.

KATE

Look, I’m a twenty-eight year old

hoofer who spends most of her time

with fags. Besides, I’m impulsive.

It runs in the family. We’re all

crazy. Mind if I smoke?

(lights a cigarette)

Anyway, today was the ’bid day.’ But

as I was walking down the aisle, I

realized this is total insanity.

What am I going to do in Texas the

rest of my life? I can’t marry Jerry

Jeff. I mean, we’re eventually gonna

have to talk. So, halfway down the

aisle, I turned and split. You think

I’m nuts, right?

BANDIT

Absolutely not. In fact, I picked up

a bride yesterday; except she was a

singer.

Suddenly, Cledus interrupts over the CB.

CLEDUS

Bandit I, do you copy?

BANDIT

(picking up mike)

This is Bandit I, come back.

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Cledus on the CB.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Who’s the broad? Over.

Bandit turns to the Girl.

KATE

Kate McConnell.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Kate McConnell. Sweet, shy... welldressed.

I’m giving her a lift to

the next waterhole.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Listen, pardner; this ain’t no time

to be getting laid.

KATE

(into mike)

Believe me, that won’t be a problem.

CUT TO:

BANDIT II

Cledus replaces the CB mike and slips Red Simpson’s

"Motivatin’ Man" into the tape deck.

CLEDUS

Never fails. Bandit gets a chick. I

get...

He looks over at Fred, who’s now passed out in the passenger

seat.

CUT TO:

SHINY STRIP OF CHROME

as a pair of plyers rip it off the side of a car and we EASE

BACK to see:

KATE’S ABANDONED CAMARO

still parked along the Arkansas Highway -- now almost

completely stripped by the THREE KIDS in the Van. The car is

up on jacks, as one of the Kids, rolls the last of the four

tires to the rear of the Van. Another kid dumps the chrome

stripping into the cab, while the third, unscrews the radio.

NEW ANGLE

As a TEXAS SHERIFF’S CAR skids to a stop behind them. SHERIFF

BUELL CLAYTON climbs out. Fifty. Ruggedly handsome. An

imposing figure.

CLAYTON

Hey!

The Kids freeze, as the Sheriff strides up to them.

FIRST KID

(pleading)

I swear to God, officer; the car

was. already like this, we were just

trying to...

But Sheriff Clayton doesn’t even notice they’ve stripped

down the entire car. He’s got other problems.

CLAYTON

Did you see the gal who was driving?

She was wearing a wedding dress.

They all nod, still shaking in their jeans.

SECOND KID

(eagerly)

Yes, sir. She got into a cherrylooking

Cobra.

CLAYTON

You get a look at the driver?

FIRST KID

No, but he had Georgia plates. BANONE.

Clayton turns on his heels and leaps back into the Sheriff’s

car, muttering to himself. He jams it into gear and peels

out in a cloud of dust.

The kids exchange bewildered looks, then immediately go back

to stripping the Camaro.

CUT TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I - BANDIT AND KATE

Bandit watching the road. Kate watching Bandit.

KATE

Why’re you driving so fast?

BANDIT

I gotta get back to Atlanta in

thirteen hours.

KATE

Why? You have a bowling date?

BANDIT

Cute. No, ’cause no one’s ever made

it from Atlanta to Texarkana and

back in twenty-eight hours.

KATE

Who’d want to?

BANDIT

I never looked at it that way.

(then)

You ask a lot of questions.

KATE

Why are you doing this obviously

macho feat?

BANDIT

For a new Kenworth. That’s a truck.

KATE

(incredulous)

A truck? You’re doing this for a

truck? That’s insanity.

BANDIT

It’s not a truck. It’s the Rolls

Royce of eighteen-wheelers.

KATE

But you could get killed, right?

BANDIT

Hey, you could get killed crossing

the street.

KATE

An existentialist.

BANDIT

(turns to her)

A what?

KATE

Eyes on the road.

She lights up another cigarette, as we:

CUT TO:

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

of an endless stretch of Arkansas Highway. Camera follows

two vehicles -- hauling ass. Bandit I, followed a couple of

miles back by Bandit II.

INSIDE BANDIT I - DAY - MOVING

Bandit and Kate.

KATE

(leaning back in her

seat)

So tell me about yourself.

BANDIT

Okay.

A beat. Nothing.

KATE

Well?...

BANDIT

Whaddya want to know? My sign?

KATE

No. I want to know what you think

about besides ditching Smokey?

BANDIT

Having fun.

KATE

Is this fun?

BANDIT

Driving?

KATE

Driving, talking to me...

BANDIT

They’re both a challenge.

KATE

You have a great profile.

BANDIT

Yeah, I do. Especially from that

angle.

She laughs. Then:

KATE

Where you from?

BANDIT

Mattoon, Illinois. But I moved down

south to work in the Civil Rights

movement.

KATE

Seriously?!?

BANDIT

(obviously lying)

Would I lie to you?

CUT TO:

AN ARKANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL CAR

parked off to the side of the highway behind an abandoned

and boarded up diner. The Patrol Car is empty and from a

little transistor radio hanging on the rear view mirror,

Merle Haggard sings, "I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am."

Camera moves off the Patrol Car and finds it’s Driver, an

Arkansas Highway Patrolman with crew cut, taking a leak.

Suddenly, Bandit I whips past doing at least a hundred and

almost blowing the OFFICER over. He quickly zips up and races

to his car.

BACK TO BANDIT I - MOVING

Kate has seen the Cop. Bandit hasn’t.

KATE

Guess what?

BANDIT

I give up.

KATE

You just passed your nemesis.

He looks at her.

KATE

Smokey.

Bandit glances up in his rear view mirror.

WHAT HE SEES - THROUGH REAR VIEW MIRROR

the Arkansas Highway Patrol car coming after him, it’s

advertising twirling and siren wailing.

BACK TO SCENE

Bandit turns to Kate.

BANDIT

Better fasten your seat belt.

Bandit slams on his brakes, locking all four tires and sending

the Cobra into a four wheel drift.

KATE

(as they’re sliding)

Good idea.

She buckles up, as Bandit grabs for the CB mike.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Bandit Two. I’m gonna leave you for

a minute. Back in a flash.

INTERCUT - BANDIT II

Cledus on the CB mike.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Keep ’er between the ditches.

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY - DAY

Bandit I slides broadside down the highway and exits down a

dirt road.

DIRT ROAD - DAY

Bandit I roars down the road, leaving clouds of dust in its

wake.

HIGHWAY - DAY

The Arkansas Highway Patrol car does a 180 in the middle of

the highway and takes the dirt road turnoff.

DIRT ROAD - DAY

Bandit I blasts up the dirt road, leaving trails of billowing

dust behind him. The Arkansas Highway Patrol Car in hot

pursuit. Over this:

KATE (V.O.)

What the hell’s going on?

BANDIT (V.O.)

I forget to tell you. I’m running

blocker for four hundred cases of

illegal brew.

A beat, then:

KATE (V.O.)

And I thought I had problems.

INSIDE THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAR - MOVING

The windshield of the car is covered with dust. The Officer

tries to squint through it, but the dust keeps building up.

Finally, he turns on his windshield wipers, making the dust

twice as thick. And now he can’t see anything.

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING

Bandit looks over his shoulder. Nothing but a solid wall of

dust. He whips the Cobra around a hairpin turn and floors

it.

NEW ANGLE

The Highway Patrol Car misses the turn and goes off the road.

Out of control, the car smashes through a clapboard fence

and sails into:

A SWAMP

It lands with a gigantic splash and water fills the FRAME.

INSIDE BANDIT I

roaring down the dirt road. Kate is turned around in her

seat, looking through the rear window.

BANDIT

Anything?

KATE

(turning back around)

We’re cool. The dumb schmuck took

the wrong turn.

They both breathe a sigh of relief.

KATE

Can I ask you something?

BANDIT

Shoot.

KATE

What do you want to be when you grow

up?

Before he can answer:

CLEDUS (V.O.)

(from CB)

Bandit I. Bandit I. Do you read me?

As Bandit reaches for the mike to answer Cledus, he glances

up.

WHAT HE SEES

A TRACTOR has moved from behind a tree and is crossing the

road directly in front of Bandit I.

Bandit tosses the CB mike to Kate with one hand and swerves

the wheel to the right with the other.

BANDIT

(to Kate)

Say this is Bandit I. Then, over.

As Bandit blasts around the Tractor and down the road, Kate

talks into the mike.

KATE

(into mike)

This is Bandit I. Over.

INTERCUT - BANDIT II

CLEDUS ON THE CB

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Where the hell are you?

KATE

(into mike)

Smokey was on our tail. We had to

take a detour to ditch the motherfu...

BANDIT

(cutting her off)

You can’t swear on these.

CLEDUS

(from CB)

What’s going on, Bandit? Come on.

BANDIT

(to Kate)

Tell him we’ll be back on the highway

in a second.

As Kate starts talking, Fred spots some cows grazing and

starts barking like crazy. Cledus can’t hear a thing.

CLEDUS

(to the dog)

Shut up, Fred.

KATE

(to Bandit)

Who’s Fred?

INSIDE CLAYTON’S CAR - DAY - MOVING

Sheriff Clayton’s been listening to this whole exchange on

his CB.

KATE (V.O.)

Bandit II. We’ll be back on the

highway in a second. Over.

CLEDUS (V.O.)

I’ll keep my eyeballs peeled.

CLAYTON

(thin smile)

So will I, hoss. So will I.

CUT BACK TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I

Kate replaces the CB mike.

KATE

(referring to CB)

These things are fabulous.

A beat.

KATE

You know, you’re not a bad driver.

BANDIT

You know, you’re not a bad passenger.

They glance at each other for a moment, then both look away.

Back at each other. Then away again. And we:

CUT TO:

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY - DAY

The eighteen-wheel Bandit II, rolling.

ANOTHER SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY

Sheriff Clayton barrelling down the blacktop.

AN EMBANKMENT

as Bandit I screeches up over the embankment -- putting him

back on the highway. He floors it and they’re off.

INSIDE BANDIT I - DAY - MOVING

Bandit flicks his CB selector to the next odd channel.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Bandit II, do you copy?

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Cledus picks up the mike. Fred is now snoring.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

This is Bandit II. Now, where the

hell are you?

BANDIT

(into mike)

On two lane blacktop. Mile marker

six-one. How we doin’ on time?

CLEDUS

(checks watch, then

into mike)

Thirty-eight minutes ahead of

schedule.

BANDIT

(into mike)

What’s your twenty?

CLEDUS

I’m ’bout four miles ahead of you,

turkey.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Not for long, you ain’t.

As Bandit’s about to hang up the mike, a NEW VOICE comes on.

VOICE

(from CB)

Breaker. Breaker.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Go breaker.

VOICE

(from CB)

Bandit, I just thought I’d lay a

Smokey report on you.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Go head on, breaker.

VOICE

(from CB)

I would say your future’s looking

dim, boss.

BANDIT

(into mike, nervous)

What’s your twenty and what’s your

handle?

VOICE

(from CB)

My handle’s Smokey Bear and I got

you by the tail.

A SIREN BLASTS behind them, whipping Bandit and Kate around.

THEIR VIEW - THRU REAR WINDOW

Sheriff Clayton is right on their ass -- no more than three

feet away -- his siren wailing and his advertising flashing.

BACK TO SCENE

Bandit slams down the CB mike.

BANDIT

(to Kate)

That’s a Texas cop. What the hell’s

he doing in Arkansas?

KATE

(uneasy)

I don’t know. Maybe Jerry Jeff sent

the heat after us.

BANDIT

(worried)

A Texas Bear in Arkansas.

(then)

Something’s up and at this point in

my life, I don’t want to know what

it is.

He trounces on it and the Shelby Cobra II springs to life,

laying twenty feet of third gear rubber. Suddenly, the Texas

Sheriff’s car looks like it’s standing on jacks.

INSIDE SHERIFF’S CAR

as Sheriff Clayton floorboards it and takes off after Bandit

I.

CLAYTON

(to himself)

I’m gonna get that bastard. No one

makes Buell Clayton look like a fool.

Let’s get going.

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY - DAY

as Bandit I races past camera. A beat and here comes the

Texas Sheriff. Hard and fast.

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING

Bandit is all concentration. Both hands on the wheel. Pressing

120 MPH. Kate fumbles for her cigarettes, but they all go

flying out of the pack. One lands on her lap. She lights it.

BANDIT’S VIEW

up ahead, the big rear end of Bandit II.

BACK TO SCENE

Bandit fires up his CB and flips to the next odd channel.

BANDIT

(into mike)

I’m whipping around you, Bandit II.

Smokey on the rubber.

INSIDE BANDIT II - MOVING

Cledus looks up ahead.

HIS VIEW

Traffic. Coming head on.

BACK TO CLEDUS

keying the mike.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

You’re gonna have to create your own

lane, buddy. You got oncoming.

INSIDE BANDIT

Bandit turns to Kate. She shrugs and closes her eyes. He

floors it.

KATE

(a mile-a-minute)

You know, my mother was a dancer,

too. Her big shot was the touring

company of ’Brigadoon.’ She’s been

married three times. To a redneck, a

poet and her tennis instructor.

(not missing a beat)

See, I motor-mouth when I get nervous.

I was nervous when I first got into

the car. Now I’m scared shitless.

BANDIT

Believe me, there’s nothing to be

afraid of.

With that, Bandit flies off the highway, onto the shoulder.

Kate closes her eyes even tighter.

FULL SHOT

as Bandit pulls alongside the big eighteen-wheeler, hanging

onto the shoulder for his life.

HIS VIEW

up ahead -- a dirt road crossing. He’ll never make it past

the huge eighteen-wheeler in time.

NEW ANGLE

as Bandit I hits the dirt road crossing, flies into the air,

comes down, smashes into a highway sign and sends it

splintering twenty feet into the air. Before he can whip the

wheel around, Bandit is staring at an endless row of rural

mailboxes. Kate turns her head, as Bandit I mows down the

mailboxes. Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap! Whap!

Bandit drops the Cobra into first, zooms past Bandit II and

sails back onto the highway.

BANDIT

Still with me?

Kate slowly opens her eyes. She’s alive.

ANGLE - SHERIFF CLAYTON’S CAR

trapped behind the huge eighteen-wheeler. Clayton pulls out

in an attempt to squeeze between Bandit II and the oncoming

traffic.

Brakes squeal, as SEVEN CARS are forced to hit the side

shoulder. Just as Clayton moves halfway past the eighteenwheeler,

Cledus puts on the press -- edging Sheriff Clayton

over.

Clayton’s rear fender catches on the rig and rips off with a

terrifying SCREECH. As his fender bounces down the highway,

Clayton pulls in front of Bandit II a split-second before an

oncoming BUS almost creams him.

INSIDE BANDIT II

Cledus sees the passing car is Texas heat and immediately

flips over to the next odd channel and keys up his CB.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Bandit I, do I have copy?

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Bandit’s pushing the red line on his speedometer and gestures

for Kate to pick up the CB mike.

KATE

(into mike)

Yeah, Bandit II, Que pasa?

CLEDUS

(into mike)

That’s a Texas bubble gum machine on

your back porch.

KATE

(has no idea what he

just said)

What’s he...

Bandit grabs the mike.

BANDIT

(driving and talking)

Uh, Cledus; I noticed.

He starts to hang it up.

CLEDUS (V.O.)

(from CB)

What’s a Texas Smokey doing in

Arkansas, man?

BANDIT

(yelling into mike)

If I knew, Cledus; I’d be on College

Bowl.

Bandit slams down the mike and the accelerator.

HIGHWAY - DAY

and the chase is on. High speed. Way over a hundred. Two

blurs through the Arkansas countryside.

INSIDE CLAYTON’S CAR

Sheriff Clayton is on his police radio.

CLAYTON

(into mike)

This is Sheriff Clayton. In pursuit

of a black Shelby Cobra, Georgia

license Boy-Adam-Nora. Ocean-Nora-

Eddie. Request assistance.

CUT TO:

TWO ARKANSAS SHERIFF’S CARS

blasting off down the highway in response. Lights twirling.

Sirens wailing.

INSIDE THE LEAD CAR - MOVING

SHERIFF WILLY BRANFORD is riding shotgun. He’s fat and

arrogant. He chews bubble gum as he talks on the radio mike.

A DEPUTY is driving. He’s twenty-five, wears long sideburns

and mirrored sunglasses.

BRANFORD

(into mike)

This is Sheriff Branford of Crossett

County. We’re already on this joker’s

case.

(he pops a bubble)

I got two units intercepting him at

Hamburg crossing. You say you was a

Sheriff?

INTERCUT - SHERIFFS CLAYTON AND BRANFORD

Clayton has trouble steering and talking.

CLAYTON

(into mike)

That’s a big ten-four. Sheriff Buell

Clayton. Texas.

BRANFORD

(stunned, into mike)

Texas? What the hell you doing in my

goddam county?!?

At that instant, Clayton hits a rut in the road and drops

his mike. He bends to pick it up and the car slides off the

shoulder.

Before he can regain control, Clayton’s headed straight for:

AN ABANDONED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE STAND

Clayton’s car crashes through the stand -- flattening it.

RUNNING ANGLE

He blasts out on the other side, now sporting one busted

headlight and a dented grill. Somehow he manages to make it

back to the road, losing a hubcap on the way.

BRANFORD

(over CB)

I said...

CLAYTON

(picking up mike off

floor)

I heard what you said. And I said...

BRANFORD

(cutting him cold)

I don’t care what you said. You’re

from Texas and what you said don’t

mean jack diddly here in Arkansas!

Clayton slams down the mike.

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY - DAY - HIGH SHOT

Bandit I whips around a treacherous bend in the highway,

leaving Sheriff Clayton in the distance.

INSIDE SHERIFF BRANFORD’S CAR

The Arkansas Sheriff is mad. He spits his gum out the window --

but it’s closed. The gum falls back in his lap. He looks at

it, then pops it back in his mouth again and turns to his

Deputy.

BRANFORD

What the hell you looking at?

Before the Deputy can answer, Clayton’s voice is back.

CLAYTON (V.O.)

(radio)

This is Sheriff Clayton again. I

lost the Cobra, but he’s deadheaded

toward you doing damn near 140. If I

was you I’d set up a roadblock.

BRANFORD

(grabbing mike)

-- And if I was you, I wouldn’t be

telling me what to do! Now take a

hike, buster!!!

(he angrily hangs up

the mike and turns

to his Deputy)

Block the road.

HIGHWAY - DAY - HIGH SHOT

The two Arkansas Sheriff’s cars slow down and form a

roadblock.

Branford and his Deputy climb out of the car. Branford spits

out his gum, as two other DEPUTIES climb out of the second

car. The four officers move behind their cars. To wait.

A SPEEDOMETER

The needle pressing 120. Ease back and we’re:

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING

as Bandit turns to Kate, who’s looking out the rear window.

BANDIT

Well?

KATE

We lost him.

Bandit sighs relief, then:

A VOICE

(from CB)

Bandit do you read me?

BANDIT

(picking up mike)

This is Bandit, you’re coming in

long and strong.

VOICE

(from CB)

My handle’s Silver Tongued Devil and

I’m here to tell you, your fellow

CB’ers are mighty proud of y’all.

BANDIT

Thanks much, Silver Tongued Devil.

SILVER TONGUED DEVIL

(from CB)

But I got a bad Bear story.

Bandit and Kate look at each other.

SILVER TONGUED DEVIL

I just rolled past a county mounty

roadblock down on eighty-two.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Thanks Silver Tongued Devil, we’ll

avoid.

SILVER TONGUED DEVIL

(from CB)

Keep the wheels spinning and the

beavers grinning.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Adios.

He hangs up the mike.

KATE

(referring to Silver

Tongued Devil)

Classy guy.

Bandit grins and takes a curve at 90. Then they both look

up.

WHAT THEY SEE

The roadblock. No way around it.

BACK TO SCENE

Bandit looks ahead down both sides of the highway. Thinks

quick.

HIGHWAY - DAY - HIGH SHOT

as Bandit I comes roaring down the highway headed directly

for the roadblock. A farmhouse is off to the side, about a

hundred yards before the roadblock.

NEW ANGLE

Bandit I swerves off the highway, throwing itself into a

broadside. The car lurches onto the Farmhouse driveway and

barrels across the front yard. It snaps a clothesline full

of clothes, sending bras, panties, shirts and socks flying

in every direction.

It then crashes through a chicken yard and corral fence,

sending whatever animals are available -- flying toward

freedom.

RACING ANGLE

as Bandit I roars across a fruit orchard, weaving in and

around rows and rows of trees, finally slamming onto an access

road and back onto the highway -- way ahead of the roadblock!

BRANFORD AND HIS MEN

stand there like statues with their mouths hanging open. A

beat, then all four cops race toward their cars, leap in and

take off.

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING

a rattled Kate turns to Bandit. She’s about to speak, but

sees his intense concentration and says nothing.

THEIR VIEW - THE HIGHWAY

up ahead. Coming straight at them, down the center of the

road -- another Arkansas Sheriff’s car.

BANDIT

Christ, it looks like a Smokey

convention.

BACK TO SCENE

Bandit whips the wheel to the right and again, the Cobra is

airborne -- flying off the highway, careening down the

shoulder, through a creek and up onto another dirt road.

THE SHERIFF’S CAR

spins around in the middle of the highway -- almost flipping

over in the process -- straightens out and takes off over

the shoulder after Bandit I.

CAMERA PANS

back to the highway. As Sheriff Branford’s two Patrol cars

come blasting down the highway. They stop at the shoulder. A

beat. Then they take off over the shoulder in pursuit.

CAMERA PANS

back again. As Sheriff Clayton’s Texas Highway Patrol car

skids to a stop.

INSIDE CLAYTON’S CAR

Clayton surveys the situation. Bandit I roaring along the

dirt road -- the three Arkansas Sheriff cars on his tail. He

makes a decision.

CLAYTON

(muttering to himself)

We’ll meet again, Bandit.

And he floors it taking off down the highway.

CUT TO:

THE DIRT ROAD - MOVING - HIGH SHOT

as the three Arkansas Sheriff’s cars race after Bandit I.

They’re on a treacherously narrow road. On both sides -- a

long sheer drop -- to water.

INSIDE SHERIFF BRANFORD’S CAR

His Deputy is doing at least 80, as he pulls within a few

feet of the lead car. The Deputy angrily honks his horn.

DEPUTY

I’m gonna pass this fruit!

BRANFORD

Just back off the hammer, boy.

DEPUTY

But sir, he’s gonna get away.

BRANFORD

He ain’t gonna get nothin’ but a

brief mention in the obituary column.

The Deputy turns to him, not understanding.

BRANFORD

(with a smile)

The bridge up ahead is out.

HIGH SHOT - THE NARROW DIRT ROAD

The four cars kicking up dust for miles.

CREEK - DAY - FULL SHOT

where the dirt road ends. But the bridge that once crossed

the banks -- is gone.

A beat and Bandit I comes roaring straight toward the creek.

INSIDE BANDIT I

Bandit and Kate see the creek. No bridge. End of the road.

Bandit barely has time to hit the brakes, sending the Cobra

into a wild fishtail. Kate desperately braces herself, hanging

onto the dashboard.

FULL SHOT

as Bandit wheels the Cobra a full 360° and comes to a halt.

He looks back.

HIS VIEW - DOWN THE ROAD

a half mile back, the Arkansas Sheriff’s are coming on fast.

Sirens blasting. The choices are simple. Give up. Or jump

the creek.

BANDIT

(turning to Kate)

Listen, we can either give up or...

Kate holds the dashboard tighter and closes her eyes.

KATE

Just do it.

THE CREEK - DAY

Bandit slams the Cobra into first and takes off. Gears grind.

Tires screech.

INSIDE BANDIT I

The speedometer whizzes past eighty. Bandit holds the wheel

tight. Kate takes a breath, then crosses herself.

RACING ANGLE

as Bandit I blasts toward the embankment, hits the dirt

incline and suddenly is airborne.

FULL SHOT - THE CREEK

Bandit I in mid-air.

NEW ANGLE

as Bandit I sails over camera and comes crashing down on the

other side. They made it!

INSIDE BANDIT I

as Bandit and Kate catch their breath.

BANDIT

Your honeymoon would’ve never been

this exciting.

KATE

I don’t know. We were planning on

seeing the Astrodome.

Bandit grins and as they take off:

CAMERA PANS BACK

to the creek. As the first Sheriff’s car comes roaring toward

the edge doing at least 95. He sees the bridge is out, hits

his brakes, goes broadside and flies over the side -- into

the creek.

A beat and Sheriff Branford’s car comes wailing down the

road. The Deputy slams down his brakes in the nick of time

and the car skids halfway over the edge -- hanging suspended

in mid-air halfway over the creek.

ANOTHER ANGLE

as the Third Sheriff’s car comes barrelling down the road,

spots Branford’s car hanging over the edge and brakes. But

its rear end slings around, smashing into the rear of

Branford’s car, sending it flying into the creek. A huge

splash, then:

CUT TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING

as they roar off the dirt road, back onto the highway, Bandit

reaches for the CB mike.

BANDIT

(to himself)

Christ, what channel are we on?...

KATE

Eleven.

Bandit looks at Kate as she reaches under the seat for one

of her errant cigarettes. Then, he punches in eleven.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Bandit II. Bandit II. Give me a shout.

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Cledus grabs the mike quickly. Fred has been gnawing on the

corner of the front seat.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

I hope that’s you, buddy; ’cause I’d

hate to start believing in ghosts.

BANDIT

(into mike)

What does the old Timex say?

CLEDUS

(into mike)

She’s losing minutes so you better

start running interference or we’re

never gonna make it. Might I remind

you this was your brainstorm.

BANDIT

(into mike)

I’ll drop off my fare, hit a quick

choke-and-puke and be blocking for

you pronto.

Kate tries not to react to this.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Bandit?

BANDIT

(into mike)

Yeah, guy?

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Pick up a burger for Fred. He’s going

crazy.

(slaps Fred on the

butt)

Bandit puts the mike back and turns to Kate. Feels he should

say something. Before he can:

KATE

You heard the man. Step on it.

Bandit studies her for a moment, then stomps on it.

CUT TO:

A TRUCK STOP CAFE - A FEW MINUTES LATER

Bandit I pulls in between a row of eighteen-wheelers parked

in front of the cafe. A few Truckers, bragging about their

rigs, check out Bandit and Kate. They’re especially taken

with Kate’s wedding gown. She and Bandit are oblivious to

them.

BANDIT

(turns to Kate)

The bus’ll pick you up over there.

(a beat)

Uh... you got enough bread for a

ticket?

KATE

Enough to get to Jersey. I’ll walk

the rest of the way. I’ve been sitting

a long time.

(a beat)

Nice meeting you. It’s been a trip.

BANDIT

(it was nothing)

Hey...

KATE

Enjoy your Kenworth.

She offers her hand and they shake. Then, Bandit heads toward

the truck stop and Kate to the bus stop. He turns and looks

back. She doesn’t.

CUT TO:

INSIDE THE TRUCK STOP

about fifteen Truckers inside. Buck Owens playing on the

juke box. Pinball machines going strong.

Bandit walks in and crosses to the counter. A hot-looking

WAITRESS with ratted hair and painted face stands in front

of a blackboard where the menu of the day is written. She

straightens herself and crosses to Bandit.

WAITRESS

(coming on)

What’s your pleasure?

BANDIT

(quickly)

Couple of cheeseburgers, no

condiments...

WAITRESS

No what?

BANDIT

Nothing on ’em and two cups of mud;

one while I’m waiting.

Bandit crosses to a booth, as a couple of TRUCKERS enter and

join another TRUCKER sitting in the booth next to Bandit.

TRUCKER #1

Jesus, Richmond; you look like

squirrel shit.

TRUCKER #2

You wanna drive fourteen hundred

miles for these cheap bastards? I

feel like leaving my rig in the middle

of the highway and tellin’ them to

kiss my antenna.

TRUCKER #1

I know what you mean, good buddy.

The Waitress comes over with Bandit’s coffee. He pours in a

ton of sugar and stirs. As he takes a sip, he hears:

WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.)

Hi.

Bandit whips around.

WHAT HE SEES

Kate. Standing in front of him -- sans wedding dress. She’s

now wearing tight jeans and a denim shirt with the bottom

rolled up and knotted above her midriff. She looks foxier

than ever.

KATE

(with a southern drawl)

The bus ain’t passin’ through these

here parts for a piece.

(sliding into booth)

I know. You only have a second.

CLOSER ANGLE

as they sit across from each other.

KATE

They wouldn’t take Master Charge so

I traded in my gown.

The Waitress comes by.

WAITRESS

(snippy; to Kate)

Coffee?

KATE

Please.

Bandit watches as she takes a sip.

KATE

Jesus!!!

BANDIT

Trucker coffee. It’s three times

stronger. Good for a hundred miles.

That, a coupla perks, and you can

leap tall buildings in a single bound.

WAITRESS

(calling O.S.)

Order up!

BANDIT

That’s me.

He gulps down a half a cup of coffee and rises.

BANDIT

See ya, Kate.

KATE

Ciao.

TRACK WITH BANDIT

moving quickly to the counter to pick up his order. Behind

him; we notice one of the Truckers from the next booth gets

up and crosses to Kate.

Bandit reaches in his pocket to pay for the order:

WAITRESS

(seductive)

Sure I can’t interest you in anything

else?

BANDIT

(smiles)

Another time.

Bandit picks up his order and turns toward the door. He sees

the Trucker talking to Kate. The Trucker’s buddies have turned

around in their booth and are all over her.

Bandit sets the food down on the counter and crosses to the

booth.

KATE

(to Truckers)

-- Believe me, fellas; I’d love to

schmoos, but...

TRUCKER #1

Don’t be so conceited. You don’t

even know us.

TRUCKER #2

(an ugly dude)

To know us, is to love us.

Bandit steps between them.

BANDIT

Hey, how y’all doin’?

TRUCKER #2

Who wants to know?

BANDIT

Listen, guys; I’m in a rush. Otherwise

I’d arrange it so they had to carry

you outta here in doggie bags.

TRUCKER #1

You and what goddamn army?

The Truckers all turn to Bandit, ready to mop the floor with

him. The restaurant is silent, except for Willie Nelson, now

singing on the juke box. Every eye is on them. A brawl looks

inevitable.

KATE

(worried)

Bandit, please...

TRUCKER #2

(totally surprised,

almost yelling)

Bandit?!? You’re the Bandit? The

fella been runnin’ the blue troopers

ragged?

Bandit looks around self-consciously. Nods.

TRUCKER #2

Lemme shake your hand, boy! You’re

my new goddamn idol.

TRUCKER #1

(slapping Bandit on

the back)

You’re the rage of CB land. We been

followin’ you for hours.

TRUCKER #2

If we’da known you was the Bandit,

we wouldn’t a never lipped off to

your old lady.

BANDIT

Well, she’s not exactly my...

TRUCKER #3

(jumping in)

Lemme have your autograph, hoss!

Everyone in the restaurant crowds around Bandit and he starts

hurriedly signing autographs.

KATE

I’ve done twenty-eight Broadway shows

and no one’s ever asked me for an

autograph.

Then:

BANDIT

(to the group, starting

off)

Listen, guys, I gotta cover ground.

I’m due in Atlanta in less than ten

hours.

TRUCKER #1

Good luck.

TRUCKER #2

Give our best to Jimmy Carter.

Kate slips out of the booth, as Bandit crosses back to the

counter.

ANGLE - COUNTER

Bandit grabs his order and finds the OWNER facing him --

holding out Bandit’s money.

OWNER

It’s on the house.

BANDIT

(grins)

Thanks.

He turns to leave.

OWNER

Son...

Bandit turns back.

OWNER

Godspeed.

Bandit smiles. Then starts out. He notices Kate is gone.

Shrugs. Heads out the door.

OUTSIDE THE TRUCK STOP - DAY

Bandit bolts out in time to see his Cobra pulling out, about

to take off.

NEW ANGLE

as Bandit leaps off the steps and races toward the car, just

as it peels out. He swings the passenger door open and is

half in -- half out, as the Cobra skids out the truck stop,

over the curb and onto the highway. The door’s still wide

open. Bandit hanging on.

INSIDE BANDIT I

Kate’s behind the wheel. She tromps on it and the car takes

off like greased lightening. Bandit’s struggling to stay in

the car.

BANDIT

(hanging on)

What the hell are you doing?!?

KATE

(gestures over her

shoulder)

He’s after us again!

Kate whips around a corner almost throwing Bandit onto the

pavement. He grabs her arm and manages to pull himself into

the car and slam the door. He looks back.

HIS VIEW - THRU REAR WINDOW

Sheriff Clayton’s Texas Highway Patrol car is after them

again. Siren blasting.

BACK TO SCENE

Bandit turns to Kate.

BANDIT

You know this guy, don’t you?

KATE

(driving hard, eyes

on the road)

I’ve never seen him before in my

life. I’m just trying to help you

out.

BANDIT

By stealing my car?

KATE

I would’ve come back for you.

BANDIT

(not believing)

Yeah.

KATE

(turning to him, dead

serious)

Yeah.

She wraps a corner doing 60, hits the highway and puts it to

the floor. Clayton’s battered up car is still coming on

strong.

INSIDE THE CLAYTON’S CAR - MOVING

Sheriff Clayton’s eyes are glazed as he tears after Bandit

I.

CLAYTON

(to himself)

I’m gonna get you, you dirty,

stinking, rotten sumbitch.

BACK TO BANDIT

Kate at the wheel.

KATE

Look, the truth is, I didn’t want to

be dumped at the truck stop. I wanted

to go on with you. I needed an excuse.

BANDIT

You could’ve asked.

KATE

You might have said no. I have trouble

handling rejection.

THE HIGHWAY

Bandit I streaks past, Kate driving. A beat and a big rig,

hauling a crane comes out of a side road. The truck moves

slowly down the highway -- a wide load.

SHERIFF CLAYTON’S CAR

roaring up.

INSIDE THE CAR

Clayton floors it and hunches low over the wheel as he passes

the truck -- afraid the crane’s going to take off his head.

FULL SHOT

as Sheriff Clayton’s car zooms under the crane, clearing it

by a hair. But the crane rips off Clayton’s lights and siren.

Leaving only wires and a gaping hole in the roof of the car.

ARKANSAS HIGHWAY - DAY

Bandit I streaking. Kate takes a dangerous curve doing 85.

Bandit gasps, but Kate holds her own.

BANDIT

Where did you learn how to drive

like this?

KATE

Like what?

He smiles.

KATE

My first father was a redneck. He

taught me how to drive fast and pants

people.

Bandit picks up the CB mike, flicking the crystal selector

two stops.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Breaker, this is Bandit I, how are

your vocal cords?

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Cledus takes his mike. Fred is on all fours in the now chewedup

front seat. Bouncing around.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

My vocal cords are fine, but Fred’s

ain’t. He’s been barking, eating the

seats and driving me crackers.

(Fred barks)

Hear that? Where’s his chow?

BANDIT

(into mike)

On its way. Give me a coupla minutes,

okay?

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Do I have a choice?

BANDIT

(into mike)

What’s your twenty?

CLEDUS

(into mike)

’Bout fourteen miles this side of

Mississippi.

CLEDUS’ VIEW

up ahead -- an Arkansas Highway Patrol car is parked off to

the side, hidden by a clump of Magnolia Trees.

BACK TO SCENE

Cledus brings it down to 55 and rolls past TWO OFFICERS

standing next to their car, holding a radar gun.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

I just passed two Kojacks with a

Kodak.

(then)

Man, this highway’s crawling with

Bears. Ain’t no way we gonna make

Atlanta on time without you runnin’

blocker.

Bandit looks back over his shoulder. Then:

BANDIT

(into mike)

I’m still trying to ditch this Texas

Smokey. I don’t know what the sucker

wants.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

What they all want -- to handcuff a

hero.

BANDIT

(into mike)

As far as John Law knows, I’m just a

joy ridin’ Georgia redneck. We keep

’em outta your backyard, we’re cool.

(looking back again)

Now just give me five to ditch this

idiot and I’ll meet you in Ole Miss.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

If you don’t, we can kiss that

Kenworth good-bye.

Bandit replaces the mike, glances up to the rear view.

HIS VIEW - THROUGH REAR VIEW MIRROR

Sheriff Clayton -- gaining ground.

BACK TO SCENE

They’re speeding around curves now, Kate doing her best to

control the Cobra. She takes a corner too fast and too wide.

Bandit I drifts into the oncoming lane and suddenly they’re

staring at:

A CAMPER

coming straight at them. A Mother, Father and Two Children

all riding in the front seat.

FULL SHOT

Kate swerves back into her lane, avoiding a head-on by less

than a split second.

BANDIT

I think we should switch seats.

He puts his hands on the steering wheel and his foot on the

accelerator, but he and Kate get tangled up trying to make

the switch.

The car goes out of control -- smashes into a guard railing

and bounces back onto the highway.

They try to switch again. Impossible.

BANDIT

(fastening seat belt)

You go ahead. This seat’s more

comfortable.

THE HIGHWAY - DAY - HIGH SHOT

Bandit I streaking, followed in the distance by the Texas

Highway Patrol car.

Coming down the highway, from the opposite direction -- is a

long, long, long FUNERAL PROCESSION.

Suddenly, Bandit I swerves to the right and starts across

the highway.

BANDIT (V.O.)

Mississippi’s the other way!

KATE (V.O.)

You want to lose this putz or not?!?

With that, Bandit I zips between two limos heading the Funeral

Procession, crosses the highway, sails over the embankment

and swerves onto a bumpy dirt path.

CAMERA WHIPS BACK

to Sheriff Clayton’s car -- roaring straight at us.

INSIDE CLAYTON’S CAR

Sheriff Clayton spots Bandit I across the highway, flying

down the bumpy dirt path. He hits his brakes and the car

screeches to a halt.

ANGLE - CLAYTON

forced to sit and wait, as the Funeral Procession passes

slowly by. He’s livid. Lays on the horn.

THE HIGHWAY - DAY

as the vehicles in the passing lane are all forced to come

to a halt to avoid crashing into Clayton -- who sits in the

middle of the highway waiting for the endless Funeral

Procession to pass. Horns honk. People yell. Clayton waits.

THE BUMPY DIRT PATH

Bandit I bounces along, past rows and rows of tall Magnolia

trees.

INSIDE BANDIT

Kate and Bandit bouncing from seat to ceiling.

KATE

(motor-mouthing)

-- You know, I used to be a high

fashion model. Tried it for six months

and almost freaked. Makeup, silly

clothes, a little man saying ’darling’

every two seconds...

BANDIT

Yeah, it’s tough when your cheekbones

are your main asset.

KATE

(nods, then sees

something O.S.)

Uh-oh.

WHAT SHE SEES

up ahead. The path ends. There’s an incline and past that a

long low fence. There’s no way around or past it.

BACK TO SCENE

Kate and Bandit look back. The Funeral Procession has almost

passed. Clayton’s is waiting. Gunning his engine. He ain’t

giving up.

BANDIT

I think you’d better let me...

Before Bandit can finish, Kate trounces on it, driving

straight toward the fence.

RACING ANGLE

as Bandit I blasts toward the incline, hits it doing 70 and

sails over the fence.

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE

we HEAR the CRACK of a baseball bat and a CENTER FIELDER, in

full uniform, takes off after a long fly ball. He stops in

his tracks at what he sees.

REVERSE ANGLE

as Bandit I flies over the fence and lands in the middle of

a MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME.

The Center Fielder is absolutely flabbergasted, as Kate

straightens out the Shelby Cobra and takes off across the

baseball field.

She roars over second base and does a 360° fishtail in the

middle of the pitchers mound. PLAYERS scatter in every

direction.

NEW ANGLE - MOVING

as Kate speeds past the dugout and a CHEERING CROWD, back to

an access road.

Up ahead. The highway. And safety.

INSIDE BANDIT I

Kate looks over to Bandit, a huge grin on her face.

KATE

Baseball needs a little pizzazz.

BACK ON THE HIGHWAY

The Funeral Procession finally passes and Clayton zooms across

the highway and onto the bumpy dirt path.

BACK ON THE DIRT PATH

Sheriff Clayton’s car comes to a sliding halt in front of

the fence. He looks around for some sign of Bandit I. Nothing.

They’ve vanished.

CLAYTON

(to himself)

This is beginning to piss me off.

The path is far too narrow to turn around, so as he begins

the arduous chore of driving in reverse down the long narrow

path, knocking off his remaining hub caps on the way, we:

CUT TO:

HIGHWAY SIGN

reading Welcome to Mississippi. A black streak whizzes past.

INSIDE BANDIT I - MOVING

Kate still at the wheel. Bandit on the CB.

BANDIT

(into mike)

-- Gimme a twenty, pardner.

CLEDUS (V.O.)

(from CB)

I’m at marker eight-five.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Son-of-a-gun. Me too.

BANDIT II

moving along the highway. Cledus looks out the sideview window

of the big eighteen-wheeler.

HIS VIEW - THROUGH SIDEVIEW MIRROR

Bandit I coming up to his back door.

BACK TO SCENE

as Cledus signals with his arm and pulls the, rig off to the

side of the road.

The door opens and Cledus climbs down the metal steps of the

truck, followed by Fred. They both take a long, healthy

stretch, as Bandit I pulls to a stop behind them.

NEW ANGLE

Bandit and Kate get out of the Cobra. Cledus is surprised to

see her. She immediately crosses to him and offers her hand.

KATE

I’m Kate. You must be Cledus.

CLEDUS

(shaking hands,

awkwardly)

Yes, ma’am.

KATE

How’s your twenty?

Cledus doesn’t get it. Bandit laughs, unwraps the hamburger.

BANDIT

Here you go, pal.

He holds the hamburger out for the dog, who wolfs it down in

one bite, then goes off to relieve himself.

Cledus takes Bandit by the arm and pulls him aside.

CLEDUS

I thought you were dumping the chick

at the truck stop.

BANDIT

I ran into complications.

CLEDUS

I hate to say it...

BANDIT

Then don’t.

CLEDUS

(rolling on)

-- But everytime we’ve ever messed

up, it’s because your rhyme’s overruling

your reason. I know you think

you’re God’s gift to waitresses,

but...

BANDIT

(interupts)

Just don’t worry about it.

(then)

How we doin’ timewise?

CLEDUS

Not good enough to be standing here

shooting the bull.

BANDIT

(turns to leave)

We’re gone.

CLEDUS

Bandit?

Bandit turns to him.

CLEDUS

(referring to Kate)

Nice ass.

Bandit grins, moves to the car.

BANDIT

(whistles to Kate)

Let’s hit it.

KATE

(crossing to Bandit I)

Nice meeting you, Cledus. Keep on

truckin’.

Cledus smiles, as Bandit and Kate climb into the Cobra. Bandit

starts the engine and they’re off.

Cledus pulls a crowbar out of the rig and begins hitting all

his tires. Checking them out. As he does this:

CLEDUS

(calling)

Let’s roll, Fred.

Cledus finishes the tires, but Fred isn’t moving.

CLEDUS

C’mon, Fred.

Nothing. The dog stares at him. Cledus takes a step forward.

Fred takes a step backward. Cledus takes two steps forward.

And Fred takes off. Running through the woods.

CLEDUS

(running after him)

Fred!!!!!!

CUT TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I

rolling. They’re silent for a long time. Then:

KATE

You plan on driving trucks all your

life?

BANDIT

No, actually I was thinking of

becoming a brain surgeon.

She laughs, as we:

CUT BACK TO:

CLEDUS CHASING FRED

through the woods. As he’s about to nab him, the Dog cuts

right and Cledus sprawls left.

CUT BACK TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I

Kate and Bandit. Talking. More relaxed.

BANDIT

-- Trucking ain’t the easiest life

in the world. I mean, you can’t make

it much past fifty and you sure as

shit don’t get a gold watch when you

hang it all up. But I like keeping

on the move. You know?

KATE

Do I know? I’m an authority on it.

BANDIT

I guess if there’s one lesson I’ve

learned, it’s that even misery has a

tough time hitting a moving target.

(then, realizing)

I forgot your question?

KATE

You plan on driving trucks all your

life?

BANDIT

(shrugs)

I... uh... I don’t know. I guess

don’t like to think about it.

KATE

Then let’s change the subject.

(a beat)

What do you think about forced school

busing?

And:

CUT BACK TO:

CLEDUS RACING AFTER FRED

gaining ground. A flying tackle. And he snares him. Cledus

is out of breath and pissed. Fred licks his face.

CUT BACK TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I

Bandit spots a green sedan with a radio-mike antenna coming

in the other direction. He backs off the accelerator.

KATE

Your foot fall asleep?

Bandit shakes his head, reaching for the CB.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Bandit two, Smokey in a plain brown

wrapper coming your way. Over.

No answer from Cledus. Kate has no idea what Bandit’s just

said.

BANDIT

(explaining to Kate)

An unmarked police car.

KATE

How do you know?

BANDIT

I know.

(into mike)

Bandit two, bring yourself on in.

Still no answer.

BANDIT

(into mike)

What’s the matter, Cledus? You got

mike fright?

(a beat, then)

Bandit two, do you copy?

INTERCUT - BANDIT I AND II

Cledus, exhausted and sweaty, tosses Fred into the eighteenwheeler

and lunges for the CB mike.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Yeah, yeah, yeah? What’s up?

Bandit glances up in the rear view mirror, sees the Smokey

in a plain wrapper take an off ramp. Harmless.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Never mind. It’s nothing.

CLEDUS

(into mike)

Anything else you don’t want me to

know?

BANDIT

(into mike)

Nope. Just keep those wheels churning.

Cledus hangs up the mike, starts his rig, checks for oncoming

and pulls onto the highway. Fred’s head sticks out the window,

his ears flapping in the wind.

DISSOLVE TO:

THE HIGHWAY - DAY - AERIAL SHOT

Bandit I and Bandit II whizzing down the highway. Picking up

time. OVER this, Kate sings "Jolene" along with Dolly Parton

on the radio.

DISSOLVE TO:

INSIDE BANDIT I - LATER

Bandit notices a broken-down FORD with its hood up, parked

off the highway. He veers the Cobra off the road, quickly

opens the glove compartment, takes out two screwdrivers and

hands one to Kate. She stops singing.

BANDIT

(explaining)

I’m sure the Arkansas Bears put out

an all-points.

KATE

(opening door)

You take the front, I’ll take the

back.

QUICK CUT TO:

A MISSISSIPPI LICENSE PLATE

fills the screen. Then the screeching of burning rubber and

Bandit I pulls away from camera -- now wearing the Mississippi

plates. And we:

DISSOLVE THRU TO:

A SERIES OF LAP DISSOLVES

Bandit I running blocker for Bandit II. Hauling ass. OVER

this:

A POLICE CALL

(thick Mississippi

drawl)

All units, be on the look out for a

black 1976 Shelby Cobra, Georgia

license...

And as the voice FADES, we:

DISSOLVE TO:

MISSISSIPPI HIGHWAY - DAY

Later. Bandit I and II. Rolling.

Over:

BANDIT (V.O.)

Bandit two, I gotta make a quick pit

stop.

CLEDUS (V.O.)

Now what?

BANDIT (V.O.)

We’re outta motion lotion.

CLEDUS (V.O.)

I’ll keep streaking. Pick me up.

Bandit I takes an off ramp, as Bandit II continues sailing

down the highway.

UNION 76 STATION

off the main highway. Bandit I pulls up to one of several

islands in the large station. Trucks are gassing up at various

pumps.

BANDIT I

Kate climbs out.

KATE

Save my seat.

She starts toward the Ladies Room as a young BLACK ATTENDANT

struts up to Bandit I.

ATTENDANT

Say, Cobra: what’s your pleasure?

BANDIT

Fill it.

ATTENDANT

Check the hood, my man?

Bandit shakes his head "no."

ATTENDANT

Aw right. This is a clean machine.

Yeah, I was thinking ’bout getting

me one of these myself. But I figure

I’m conspicuous enough to the police

as it is, so why encourage them more,

if you know what I mean.

BANDIT

Yeah, I know what you mean.

The Attendant starts pumping Supreme. Bandit leans back in

the seat. Closes his eyes.

Suddenly, from his CB.

A VOICE

(over CB)

Bandit, do you read me? Over.

Bandit snaps his eyes open. Who the hell is this? He grabs

his mike.

BANDIT

(into mike)

This is Bandit. Who we got on that

end?

INTERCUT - SHERIFF CLAYTON - TIGHT

The Texas Sheriff looks tired -- obsessed.

CLAYTON

(into mike)

Just the man who’s gonna see you

driven to your knees! Sheriff Buell

Clayton from Texas.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Not that I don’t have any respect

for the law, but what’s your problem,

man?

CLAYTON

(into mike)

You.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Yeah, well I kinda figured that.

CLAYTON

(into mike)

You know, you may think you’re gonna

get away, but I promise you, everytime

you turn around, I’ll be there,

breathing down your neck.

BANDIT

(into mike)

Well, if your breath is as sweet as

your personality, I got a lot to

look forward to. Adios.

Bandit hangs up the mike, as Kate comes back sipping an orange

soda. She hops into the front seat, as the Attendant struts

back over.

NEW ANGLE

as camera begins to slowly PULL AWAY from Bandit I.

ATTENDANT

(to Bandit)

That’ll be eight-seventy two.

Bandit hands him a bill.

ATTENDANT

-- Outta ten.

Camera has now PULLED BACK enough to see:

SHERIFF CLAYTON’S CAR

parked on the other side of the gas station. The car’s front

end has been lifted high into the air by a hydraulic jack

and ANOTHER ATTENDANT is changing a tire and replacing a