BOTTLE ROCKET ORIGINAL SCRIPT
screenplay by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson
EXT. ALLEY. DAY
ANTHONY and DIGNAN walk down an alley behind a convenience
store. Anthony's nineteen. He's got on a red jacket with an
Enco patch. Dignan's twenty. He has a buzz-cut and wears a
short-sleeved terrycloth shirt. He carries a vinyl tennis
bag. It's got a pouch for a racquet but no racquet in it.
DIGNAN
What color hair does he have?
ANTHONY
Black hair. Paul Michael Glaser.
DIGNAN
Making Hutch David Soul?
ANTHONY
Right. The blond guy.
DIGNAN
OK. That's wrong.
ANTHONY
Dignan, it's --
DIGNAN
Plus where's Huggie Bear?
ANTHONY
He's not there. Huggie Bear isn't
in every single episode.
DIGNAN
I think you might of dreamed this
one, Anthony.
ANTHONY
No. It's a real episode. The killer
is leading him across the city by
calling different pay phones.
They climb over a high wooden fence.
EXT. BACKYARD. DAY
They walk through somebody's backyard.
DIGNAN
Why?
ANTHONY
As part of his plan. I don't know
why.
DIGNAN
See, that's what I'm saying. It has
the logic of a dream.
ANTHONY
The point is the killer always
goes, May I speak to Starsky? He
says his name.
DIGNAN
(pause)
What does Starsky say?
ANTHONY
He says. This is he.
DIGNAN
This is he?
ANTHONY
No. This is he.
They climb another fence. There's big house on the other side.
INT. HOUSE. DAY
Anthony and Dignan are inside walking through the foyer.
Anthony goes up the stairway quickly and quietly.
Dignan walks to the master bedroom. Goes in the closet and
grabs a box. Looks inside. Dumps it into his bag.
Anthony goes into a bedroom. Looks in a dresser and takes
out two watches. Digs through some socks and finds some cash.
Dignan goes in the study. Opens a drawer and closes it.
Opens another and lifts out a set of thin leather coin books.
Anthony's in a kid's room. Looking at posters of a football
player and John McEnroe on the walls. He grabs a walkman and
a calculator. Then suddenly stops moving. He crouches down.
Looks at a shelf of dozens of little metal soldiers. They're
in formations with different uniforms.
Dignan is walking down the hallway as Anthony comes down the
stairs. They walk to the door and go out.
INT. DINER. DAY
A twenty-four hour diner. Anthony and Dignan are eating at
the counter.
ANTHONY
Did you see what I meant about the
window?
DIGNAN
Kind of. Except we've already got
the keys.
ANTHONY
That's true. But what if they
change the locks?
DIGNAN
Would they do that?
ANTHONY
Who knows? That's why I filed it
down.
Dignan nods.
ANTHONY
Now that window can never be locked.
It's impossible.
DIGNAN
See, your mind is very good with
the more mechanical details.
Whereas my strength would be --
A good-looking WOMAN about forty-five years old interrupts
them.
WOMAN
Can I use your Tabasco?
ANTHONY
Sure.
Anthony hands her a bottle of Tabasco off the counter. She
walks away. Down the counter.
ANTHONY
You don't see many women who like
Tabasco.
They watch her for a minute. Dignan looks away.
ANTHONY
She's really kind of hot.
DIGNAN
(looks back at her, nods)
She's an attractive older woman.
EXT. BOB'S HOUSE. DAY
A huge house with a wide lawn. BOB, who's about twenty-six,
wearing black jeans and a V-neck T-shirt, is spraying down a
battered 1972 Mercedes with a garden hose. He's got his
shirt off and a towel around his neck. Dignan has an
expression of intense concentration as he looks at the car.
BOB
Well, what do you think?
DIGNAN
I don't know, Bob. What about one
of those?
Dignan points to a new BMW and a Lexus in front of the garage.
BOB
I'm not allowed to drive those.
DIGNAN
Not even for emergencies?
BOB
(a little angry)
No.
DIGNAN
I thought your parents were in Italy.
BOB
They are.
DIGNAN
So who's going to know?
My brother.
ANTHONY
Future Man.
BOB
Who?
ANTHONY
Future Man. You know. Cause he
looks like he's from the future.
DIGNAN
He looks like he was designed by
scientists. For desert warfare.
BOB
That never would of --
DIGNAN
Let's cut the bullshit.
Silence. They all look at the car. Pause.
ANTHONY
It's got a V-8, Dignan.
DIGNAN
What do you think the cops have?
INT. BOB'S HOUSE. DAY
They're sitting at the coffee table in Bob's great big
living room. It's got high ceilings and two Persian rugs.
They're eating sandwiches and chips.
BOB
If you're that worried, maybe we
should just steal one.
DIGNAN
What are you talking about, Bob?
BOB
Can you use a coaster.
Bob slides a coaster under Dignan's glass.
ANTHONY
Did you ever steal a car before?
BOB
Yeah. I've stolen two cars before.
One Jaguar. And one Trans-Am. With
T-Tops. That Trans-Am was fun to
drive.
DIGNAN
You stole a Trans-Am.
BOB
Yes. I did.
DIGNAN
OK, Bob.
BOB
It's true, Dignan.
DIGNAN
Well. What do you want to do? You
want to steal one or just drive
your car?
BOB
(thinks for a minute)
I'll just drive my car.
INT. DELI. DAY
Anthony's playing pinball at a machine in the back of a
little grocery store. Dignan's watching.
DIGNAN
Anthony, we'll get two hundred for
the coin collection alone. That's
less than what it's appraised at.
ANTHONY
But Dignan, do you really know that
much about rare coins?
DIGNAN
I know about money, Anthony. I know
the value of money. Plus the
earrings are worth three times that.
Anthony looks at Dignan. Dignan points at the pinball machine.
DIGNAN
Your ball.
Dignan tries to hit the flipper.
ANTHONY
I told you not to take the earrings.
Anthony keeps looking at Dignan. Dignan doesn't look up from
the machine. Anthony turns and walks away.
DIGNAN
You got another ball.
Dignan watches him go.
DIGNAN
I'm playing your game.
EXT. SIDEWALK. DAY
They're walking fast down the sidewalk.
ANTHONY
The list, Dignan. I know you
remember the list because you
signed it. "Things Dignan was not
supposed to touch."
DIGNAN
Every valuable item in the house
was on that list.
ANTHONY
That doesn't make any difference. I
bought those earrings for my mother
on her birthday. They have a very
special value for her.
DIGNAN
Yeah, but I can't be sorting
through that shit in the middle of
a burglary. There's just not time
for it.
ANTHONY
Then you shouldn't of gone in
there, Dignan. Maybe we should of
robbed your house. Did you ever
think of that?
Dignan stops walking. Anthony looks back at him. Pause.
ANTHONY
What?
Dignan turns and starts walking the other way.
ANTHONY
Where are you going?
DIGNAN
I don't appreciate you ridiculing me.
ANTHONY
How was I ridiculing you?
DIGNAN
You're making fun of my family. You
know there's nothing to steal from
my mom and Craig. You know exactly
what you're saying.
ANTHONY
That's not what I meant, Dignan.
They both see something. They keep walking. Dignan looks
back down the sidewalk.
DIGNAN
Did you see that?
ANTHONY
Yeah, I saw it.
DIGNAN
I'm lookout.
ANTHONY
Dignan, it's got an alarm.
DIGNAN
I don't think so. Just reach on in.
ANTHONY
That sets it off.
DIGNAN
No, just do it real quick.
(starts down the sidewalk)
I'll meet you down there.
Dignan cuts into an alley. Anthony turns back. Looks at a
parked car. Looks left and right. Walks to the car and
reaches in the half-open window.
An alarm goes off. Anthony unlocks the door and opens it.
Leans inside. Grabs a wallet off the seat.
A MAN standing on the sidewalk watches Anthony get out of
the car. Anthony looks at him, then walks down the sidewalk
not too fast. He turns down an alley and runs.
EXT. ALLEY. DAY
Anthony comes around the corner and meets Dignan beside a
dumpster. The alarm is still ringing in the distance.
Anthony starts looking through the wallet.
ANTHONY
It had an alarm.
DIGNAN
Yeah, I heard that.
ANTHONY
(counting the money)
Five, seven, eight dollars.
He looks at Dignan.
DIGNAN
(taking the wallet)
Holy shit. What'd I tell you?
ANTHONY
Eight dollars.
DIGNAN
That's not bad.
Anthony keeps looking at Dignan. Dignan smiles. He hands
Anthony a five dollar bill. Anthony looks at it. He takes it.
He puts it in his pocket. Dignan puts out his hand to shake.
Anthony waits a second. He shakes Dignan's hand for just a
second and walks down the alley. Dignan smiles and walks
behind him.
INT. HAMBURGER PLACE. NIGHT
Anthony and Dignan are sitting at a table with Bob.
ANTHONY
What do herbs have to do with it? I
don't understand the --
BOB
Pot is an herb. It's just like any
type of gardening.
DIGNAN
How much could you grow?
Realistically.
BOB
As much as I want. When these
plants bud I'll probably have about
six thousand dollars worth of weed.
DIGNAN
Six thousand dollars? Come on, Bob.
BOB
You should take a look. I have an
entire crop in my backyard.
ANTHONY
In your backyard? How do you
protect them?
BOB
It's private property. Plus I have
Hector.
ANTHONY
Hector wouldn't do anything.
BOB
But he's got a loud bark. That's
the most important thing is a loud
bark.
DIGNAN
If it's that easy why doesn't
everybody grow them?
BOB
Good question.
Bob looks at Anthony and Dignan. He suddenly gets worried.
BOB
Don't you guys tell anybody about
my plants.
DIGNAN
You're paranoid, Bob.
BOB
Yeah, but don't tell anybody.
ANTHONY
Could you grow cinnamon?
BOB
I don't know. Sure, I guess.
ANTHONY
You could make your own cinnamon
toast.
Bob looks at Anthony for a second. He looks at Dignan. Back
at Anthony.
BOB
Are you a fag?
LITTLE RICHARD
You're the faggot.
Bob turns around to see LITTLE RICHARD, short but muscular,
wearing a down vest and a baseball cap.
BOB
Little Richard. I don't believe it.
They'll let anybody in this place.
Sit down.
Little Richard sits down.
BOB
Dignan and Anthony, this is Little
Richard. He's crazy. Totally nuts.
LITTLE RICHARD
(smiling)
I don't know about that.
BOB
Little Richard. Trust me. You're
insane. Jesus, this guy used to
carry a percussion bomb around in
his trunk. You do not want a guy
like that loose on the streets.
LITTLE RICHARD
It seemed like a good idea at the
time.
BOB
The one and only Little Richard.
DIGNAN
Are you named after THE Little
Richard?
LITTLE RICHARD
(stares at Dignan)
Ha! Ha! Ha! Why don't you stick it
up your ass. Great group of guys
you're hanging out with.
Little Richard goes out the door.
DIGNAN
What was that all about?
BOB
I can't believe you said that.
DIGNAN
What did I say?
BOB
I told you he's crazy.
ANTHONY
But he didn't say anything.
DIGNAN
Hang on a second.
Dignan gets up and walks out of the restaurant. Anthony and
Bob look at each other. They start to get up.
EXT. HAMBURGER PLACE. NIGHT
Anthony and Bob go out the door. Dignan is walking over to a
station wagon. Little Richard is getting in.
DIGNAN
Little Richard. Wait a second. Hang
on. I didn't mean to --
Little Richard opens his door hard into Dignan's legs, then
gets out fast and takes off his shirt. Dignan tries to hit
him but doesn't connect. They grab onto each other and start
knocking around. Another GUY gets out of the station wagon.
Two more GUYS rush out the door of the burger place. Anthony
and Bob stand back, nervous.
ANTHONY
Let them fight.
BOB
Let them fight.
They all watch. Dignan keeps trying to punch Little Richard,
but he's hanging onto him too tight. They keep spinning
around together, moving down the sidewalk.
DIGNAN
(calling out)
Anthony.
Anthony looks at the other guys then moves toward Dignan.
ANTHONY
OK. Break it up. Break it up.
Little Richard lets go of Dignan. They separate.
DIGNAN
I separated my shoulder.
Dignan is holding onto his arm. He kind of moans.
ANTHONY
OK. Hang on.
Anthony grabs hold of Dignan's arm. Everybody's watching.
DIGNAN
Just pull straight up.
Anthony pulls up hard on Dignan's arm. Dignan tries not to
yell, then suddenly he's OK and relieved.
ANTHONY
Is it back in?
DIGNAN
(moving arm slowly)
Yeah.
GUY #1
OK, man. Let's go.
DIGNAN
No. I'm not fighting anymore.
ANTHONY
His shoulder went out, man. It's
over.
GUY #2
You guys better get out of here.
Guy #2 pushes Dignan. Anthony turns and pounds him in the
face. Right on the nose. The guy goes cross-eyed. He falls
down with his legs all tangled-up in a strange position.
Everyone stands there stunned. Anthony takes a step back. He
looks up. He and Dignan take off. Bob stands there. Frozen.
Everyone looks at him. Bob looks at Little Richard.
LITTLE RICHARD
Bob?
Bob takes off.
INT. CAR. DAY
The next day. They're driving with Bob. Dignan's up front.
He's banged-up from the fight.
DIGNAN
The guy is fucking insane.
BOB
I warned you, Dignan.
DIGNAN
You said it like it was a big joke,
Bob. Like he's wild.
BOB
No, I was saying crazy like a
lunatic.
DIGNAN
I know that now. He's a fucking
psycho.
BOB
Well, don't blame me. I told you.
DIGNAN
I do blame you, Bob. And whoa. Look
at her.
There's a beautiful GIRL on the sidewalk. They drive past her.
DIGNAN
Loop around real fast.
ANTHONY
Just turn right here.
Bob immediately turns and they drive past the girl again.
They don't say anything as they go past her. They all just
look at her. They drive on.
CUT TO:
A minute later. They've looped back. They're looking for the
girl.
DIGNAN
Where'd she go?
BOB
Maybe she turned.
ANTHONY
There she is.
She's on a side street. Bob hits the brakes hard. The girl
looks back at them. They back up a few feet and turn down
the street. They drive slowly toward the girl.
ANTHONY
Bob, don't be so obvious.
The girl keeps looking back at them.
DIGNAN
I think we might of scared her.
BOB
Let's just go.
They come up, beside the girl. She looks right at them,
still walking.
Her expression is angry and also a little scared.
They drive away.
DIGNAN
You blew it, Bob.
INT. COFFEE SHOP. DAY
Anthony, Dignan, and Bob are meeting with TEMPLE. Temple is
in his mid-fifties, short, heavy, completely expressionless
wide face. They listen intently as he briefs them on the
intricacies of firearms.
TEMPLE
A gun is a firearm. A pistol is a
firearm. But anything you hold in
your hand is a weapon. A knife. A
wrench. A ballpoint pen.
ANTHONY
A ballpoint pen?
TEMPLE
Anyone who tells you a ballpoint
pen is not a weapon needs intensive
psychiatric treatment. You can
stick them in the esophagus. You
give them a ballpoint tracheotomy.
They nod seriously. Temple laughs.
EXT. FIELD. DAY
They're standing behind Temple's car in the middle of an
open pasture. The trunk is open. Temple's got some guns in
metal cases. They draw targets on pieces of paper. Anthony
draws a man running on his target. They fire a bunch of
different pistols. The last one they shoot's a .44 Magnum.
They buy it.
INT. BOB'S HOUSE. DAY
The TV room. There are two big couches and a nice giant TV.
The doors are open onto the balcony. The .44 is on the
coffee table. Dignan is sitting there with a map and some
diagrams laid out. Anthony and Bob are on either side of him.
Dignan's pointing at a notebook page with the heading
"Escape Route."
DIGNAN
OK. Escape route. The most important
thing you can have is an escape
route. Just in case somebody's
tailing us. Or even chasing us, as
the case may be --
ANTHONY
You think we're going to be chased?
DIGNAN
That's a good question. No. I don't.
I'm just being hypocritical here.
However, I will say --
Bob reaches for the .44.
BOB
(quietly)
I'm going to take a look at this.
DIGNAN
(puts hand on gun)
Hang on This is important, Bob.
Anthony and I are responsible for
the internal situation. The money
and the people. You're responsible
for the external situation. The
streets and the getaway.
BOB
(nods)
That's my responsibility.
DIGNAN
That's your domain.
BOB
OK.
Anthony is making a little man out of a scrap of paper.
DIGNAN
Now. One thing we need to discuss
is timing. Timing is absolutely
crucial. What are you doing? Anthony!
ANTHONY
(looks up)
Nothing. Go ahead.
Bob picks up the gun.
BOB
(to himself)
How many bullets can that hold?
Dignan grabs the gun away and sets it down out of Bob's reach.
DIGNAN
Bob.
BOB
I'm paying attention. I just want
to look at it for a minute.
DIGNAN
(screaming)
What's your fucking problem? You're
a shithead!
BOB
I just want to see how much bullets
it takes.
Anthony picks up the gun off the table. He clicks the action.
DIGNAN
Anthony, give me the fucking gun!
ANTHONY
(pulling away)
No, Dignan. It's not your gun. It's
all of ours.
BOB
(quietly)
I paid for it.
DIGNAN
God DAMMIT.
Dignan stands up, grabbing his papers.
DIGNAN
You two just don't give a shit, do
you?
Dignan starts out of the room. Anthony stands up.
ANTHONY
Dignan, calm down.
DIGNAN
(turns back, screaming)
You're out! I'm not working with
either one of you!
ANTHONY
Dignan! Stop!
Dignan stops. Looking at Anthony.
ANTHONY
Calm down. Take a deep breath.
DIGNAN
(pause)
You're right. You're right.
Dignan sits back down and starts spreading out his papers
again. Freezes. Looks at Bob. Bob's looking at the gun. Bob
looks at Dignan. Bob looks away. Nobody moves.
EXT. DECK. EVENING
Anthony and Dignan have moved outside to the hot tub.
Anthony pets Bob's dog HECTOR. Bob's brother FUTURE MAN
walks up the path from the driveway with his blonde
cheerleader GIRLFRIEND.
FUTURE MAN
What are you guys doing?
ANTHONY
Nothing. We're just --
FUTURE MAN
You seen my brother?
DIGNAN
He's inside.
Future Man goes inside. His girlfriend stands there on the
deck.
GIRLFRIEND
(smiles)
Hi.
ANTHONY & DIGNAN
Hi.
She stands there, looking across the yard. Anthony and
Dignan sit there in the hot tub, looking around. We hear
Future Man's loud voice inside:
FUTURE MAN
Goddammit, Bob! Get your shit
together.
Future Man comes back out. He stops by the hot tub.
FUTURE MAN
What are you guys up to tonight?
ANTHONY
Nothing much.
DIGNAN
Just hanging around.
Future Man walks back out the gate.
GIRLFRIEND
Bye.
She follows Future Man. Anthony and Dignan watch them walk
away. Bob comes back out with some drinks. He looks shaken.
DIGNAN
What'd Future Man want?
Bob shrugs and gets in the hot tub. They sip on their drinks.
Bob's got a Heineken.
BOB
He doesn't get it. Held never
understand what we're trying to
accomplish here. It's too dangerous
for him.
DIGNAN
Well, in reality it's not that
dangerous, Bob. It's only dangerous
if you don't know what you're doing.
BOB
Yeah, but what if some nut pulled
gun on you?
ANTHONY
The only nut with a gun is going to
be Dignan.
Anthony gets out of the hot tub and dives in the pool.