Characters:

          Holden Caulfield (Tobey Maguire), a troubled teenager who experienced many social problems as well as troubles with schools. His depression and                                  lack of communication with other people causes him to devolve until a final major collapse.

            Robert Ackley (James Van Der Beek), Holden Caulfield’s friend at Pencey Prep. His poor hygiene and communication skills cause him to be more                                            annoying than friendly, but Holden still attempts to be friends with him.

            Ward Stradlater (Matt Damon), Holden's roommate at Pencey Prep. Stradlater is self-centered and arrogant, but is a strong good-looking guy. Holden                            gets into a fight with Stradlater after he suspects that Stradlater seduced Jane Gallagher.

            Sally Hayes (Katie Holmes), an old friend of Holden’s. He goes out on a date with her, but her witty personality and phoniness cause him to be annoyed                                     by her. Holden asks her to run away with him but she declines. He then insults her and she is offended and leaves him.

            George (Joshua Jackson), a friend of Sally’s from Andover who she runs into while on the date with Holden. Holden dislikes him because of his                                             phoniness and preppy attitude.

            Phoebe Caulfield (Hayden Panettiere), Holden's nine year old younger sister. She is mature and intelligent for her age and is able to realize the problems               that her brother is experiencing.

            Narrator (James Earl Jones)

Act One, Scene One: The Date

 

            It is a cold fall night. The wind is blowing and the leaves are swirling around. The camera zooms in to a large brick building.

 

Narrator: This is the story of a teenager. Just like all teenagers, he finds problems with the world and experiences issues that may be an annoyance to him. However, this teenager is not like all other teenagers. We begin our story at Pencey Preparatory School.

 

Camera switches to two teenagers in a third story room talking.

 

Ackley: Hey Holden, who won the game today?

 

Holden: Couldn’t tell ya Ack. I left early. Had to go see ol’ Spencer.

 

Ackley: What are you going around to teachers for? You already got the boot. No point in sucking up to them now.

 

Holden: Hey Ackley kid, what are you doing tonight? Sitting around popping your goddamn pimples like always?

 

Ackley: Grow up Holden! I just have to catch up on some work tonight. But I hear your roommate has a hot date tonight with some new girl. They went to the game today and if I had to guess, he’s gonna give her the time tonight. (smirks to himself)

 

Holden: Alright, well I gotta go do some work. Stradlater asked me to help him out with some stupid English paper.

 

Ackley: Just like Stradlater. The guy never does his own work. You should write a crap paper just to give him what the bastard deserves.

 

 

Act One, Scene Two: The Fight

 

            Camera switches to Holden and Stradlater in a bathroom. Three showers are on with boys in them. The room is filled with steam.

 

Holden: (wipes off the steam on the mirror and begins shaving) Hey Stradlater, how was the date tonight?

 

Stradlater: It went alright. Actually she said she knew you.

 

Holden: No way, who was it?

 

Stradlater: Jane Gallagher?

Holden: Oh really? Wow, she is one of my great friends. I should go see her. I didn’t know she went to school around here.

 

Stradlater: (washing his razor) Yea, you should go see her. (begins to walk away)

 

Holden: Hey wait up. What’d you two do tonight anyway?

 

Stradlater: Nothing, we just sat in the goddamn car.

 

Holden: Whose car?

 

Stradlater: Ed Banky’s.

 

Holden: Ed Banky the basketball coach? Why is he always letting his athletes borrow his damn car? Doesn’t he know what you are gonna do in it?

 

Stradlater: Shut up Holden. We didn’t do anything in it.

 

Holden: Yes, you did. You gave Jane the time in Ed Banky’s car!

 

Stradlater: Watch it Holden. Want me to wash your mouth out with soap?

 

Holden: You jerk. (throws a punch but misses)

 

Stradlater: (tackles Holden and puts his knees on him, pinning him down) What the hell do you think you’re doing?

 

Holden: Get your goddamn knees off of me ya sonuvabitch.

 

Stradlater: You shut up now, Holden! If you don’t shut up I’m gonna really slam ya one.

 

Holden: Get your stinkin knees off my chest.

 

Stradlater: If I let you up, will you keep your mouth shut? (allows Holden to get up)

 

Holden: You’re a dirty stupid sonuvabitch moron.

 

Stradlater: I’m warning you Holden for the last time.

 

Holden: That’s the problem with you morons. You never want to discuss anything.

 

Stradlater: Holden, goddamn it. (punches Holden right across the face and knocks him to the floor) Next time, shut up when I tell you to. Now go wash your face, Holden.

 

            Stradlater walks away as Holden sits on the floor holding his face. The camera pans out and fades into the next scene.

 

 

Act Two, Scene One: Holden Calls Sally

 

            It’s a cold city day. Holden is inside a phone booth. As the camera zooms in, Holden begins to speak.

 

Holden: Sally?

 

Sally:  Yes-who is this?

 

Holden: It’s Holden.

 

Sally: Holden Caulfield? How are ya?

 

Holden:  I’m fine. I was wondering if you were, ummm, busy today. It’s Sunday but there are always one or two matinees on Sunday. Would you care to go?

 

Sally: I’d love to. Grand.

 

Holden: Meet me under the clock at the Biltmore at two o’clock.

 

Sally: Perfect Holden! Bye!

 

 

Act Two, Scene Two: The Show

 

            Holden is sitting on a leather coach inside the theater. The room is filled with people, mostly nervous waiting for their dates. Holden sees Sally walk into the theater and is stunned by her beauty. They begin to talk.

 

Sally: Holden! It’s marvelous to see you. It’s been ages.

 

Holden: Yea, I know. You look great.

 

Sally: Why thank you, Holden. What are we going to see?

 

Holden: The Lunts. It’s all I could get tickets for.

 

Sally: The Lunts! That’s marvelous.

 

            Now, the camera switches to the show beginning to start. A few highlights of the show are shown, and then the camera cuts to intermission, where Sally and Holden are each smoking a cigarette in a lounge.

 

Sally: That first act was marvelous! I loved it Holden!

 

Holden: Yea, it was great. (obviously lying, but not quite sarcastically)

 

Sally: Wait, Holden! I know I have seen that boy before. He looks so familiar.

 

Holden: So go talk to him.

 

Sally: (brings the boy) Holden, this is George. He goes to Andover.

 

George: Hi Holden, nice to meet you.

 

Holden: (sarcastically) Yea, you too.

 

George: How ‘bout these Lunts? They are angels.

 

            George and Sally continue to talk. Finally, Holden and Sally get in a cab.

 

Holden: So where are we going now?

 

Sally: Let’s go ice skating at Radio City!

 

 

Act Two, Scene Three: Ice Skating

 

            Holden and Sally begin ice skating. Sally is looking very cute in her ice skating skirt. After a few minutes of skating, the camera zooms in on them and their conversation.

Holden: Hey Sally, how ‘bout we go inside for a drink?

 

Sally: Why that’s the most marvelous idea you’ve had all day.

 

            The two go inside for drinks. They are both sitting at a table drinking cokes from the old-fashioned glass bottles with straws in them. Holden is lighting matches and letting them drop into the ashtray.

Holden: Hey Sally. Did you ever get fed up?

 

Sally: What do you mean Holden?

 

Holden: I mean do you like school? I know it’s a terrific bore, but do you hate it?

 

Sally: I don’t exactly hate it. You have to-

 

Holden: (interrupting her) Well, I hate it. I’m in lousy shape Sally.

Sally: You certainly are Holden. You need help.

 

Holden: (excitedly) Look, here’s my idea. How would you like to get the hell out of here? I know this guy in Greenwich Village. We could borrow his car and drive up to Massachusetts or Vermont or something. I got some money in my bank account. We could live of that. Once that runs out, I could get a job. And later                  on, we could get married or something. C’mon! Wuddaya say? Will you do it with me? Please!

 

Sally: You can’t just do something like that Holden.

 

Holden: Why not? Why the hell not?

 

Sally:  Stop screaming at me Holden. In the first place, we are both practically children. And did you ever stop to think what would happen if you didn’t get a job? We’d both starve to death.

 

Holden: C’mon, let’s get out of here. You give me a royal pain in the ass to tell you the truth.

 

Sally: (clearly insulted) You jerk!

 

Holden: I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!

 

Sally: You’re sorry. You’re sorry? That’s funny.

 

Holden: C’mon. Lemme give you a ride home.

 

Sally: No thank you. I can walk.

 

            Sally leaves Holden sitting at the table. As the camera pans out, Holden, too, gets up and walks away slowly.

 

 

Act Three, Scene One: Holden Meets Phoebe

 

            Holden opens the door to his family’s apartment and walks in quietly. The lights are off and Holden bumps into a table. He then continues to walk in the apartment until he gets to Phoebe’s room. He opens the door quietly and the camera shows Phoebe sleeping. Holden begins to look through her books when Phoebe wakes up.

Phoebe: Holden! (hugs him) Whenja get home?

 

Holden: Shhh! Not so loud. How are ya anyway?

 

Phoebe: I’m fine. Did you get my letter?

 

Holden: Yea, how’s the play?

 

Phoebe: It stinks, but I’m Benedict Arnold. (proudly) Are you coming?

 

Holden: Of course I’m coming.

 

Phoebe: But Holden, what are you doing home? Mom said you weren’t getting out ‘til Wednesday.

 

Holden: I got out early. Not so loud though. You’ll wake everybody up.

 

Phoebe: They aren’t home. They went to a party in Norwalk, Connecticut.

 

Holden: Did they say what time they’ll be back?

 

Phoebe: No, but not ‘til very late.

 

Holden: But do you know what time?

 

Phoebe: Holden, why aren’t you home Wednesday? You got kicked out didn’t you?

 

Holden: Who said I got kicked out? Nobody said-

 

Phoebe: (interrupting) You did! You did get kicked out! Daddy’ll kill you!

 

Holden:  Nobody is gonna kill me.

 

Phoebe: Daddy’s gonna kill you! (puts the pillow over her head)

 

Holden: Cut it out Phoeb! Take that goddamn thing off your head.

 

Phoebe: (muffled by the pillow) Daddy’s gonna kill you! Daddy’s gonna kill you!

 

Holden: Fine! (frustrated, walks into the living room and smokes a cigarette)

 

            Camera shows Holden depressed as he smokes a cigarette in the living room. After finishing it, he comes back to Phoebe’s room.

Phoebe: You failed everything, didn’t you?

Holden: No I didn’t. I passed English.

Phoebe: Why did you do it?

Holden: You mean why did I get the ax? A million reasons. I just didn’t like it.

Phoebe: You don’t like anything, Holden.

Holden: I do! That’s where you’re wrong.

Phoebe: Name one thing you like.

 

Holden: Hmm, one thing I like? Something I like a lot you mean?

 

Phoebe: You like a lot.

 

Holden: Alright. I like Allie. And I like sitting here talking to you.

 

Phoebe: Allie’s dead! If somebody’s dead and in heaven then that doesn’t really count.

 

Holden: I know he’s dead, but that doesn’t mean I can’t like him. Just because somebody’s dead you don’t just stop liking them, especially if they were about a         thousand times nicer than anybody you know that is alive and all. (begins  getting noticeably depressed) I have to go Phoebe. (goes to call Mr. Antolini)

 

            Camera fades away as Holden talks on the Phone to Mr. Antolini.