FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF

HELICOPTER SHOT moves in on the world's tallest building. As

it passes we see three figures pressed against the windows.

FERRIS (VO)

This is the world's tallest building.

From our vantage point here on the

103 floor, we are provided with a

view of four states.

CAMERON (VO)

Do you think the car's alright?

FERRIS (VO)

Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and

my personal favorite, Indiana.

111 INT. SEARS TOWER OBSERVATION DECK 111

Ferris, Cameron and Sloane are standing against the window.

CAMERON

I don't feel good, Ferris. Are

we gonna stay long?

FERRIS

Take a step back...

Ferris steps back. Sloane and Cameron follow suit.

FERRIS

Now, lean against the glass. Like

this...

He leans forward, putting all his weight on his forehead.

FERRIS

And look down.

Sloane leans forward. Cameron follows, reluctantly.

SLOANE

Oh, shit!

HER POV

The street far, far below. A dizzying view.

INT. OBSERVATION DECK

The three are leaning against the glass.

SLOANE

What if the glass gives?

FERRIS

Death.

SLOANE

Cool.

CU. CAMERON

He's looking down.

CAMERON

I think I see my Dad.

112 EXT. STREET LEVEL 112

A middle-aged man, Cameron's father, HORACE FRYE, is

standing on the street corner. He's lean, clean, tough and

humorless. He's wearing a puzzled look on his face.

CAMERON'S FATHER

I think I see my car.

HIS POV

The Ferrari screams down the avenue and disappears down the

underground ramp.

113 INT. SEARS TOWER LOBBY 113

Ferris and Sloane bound down the escalator. Cameron follows

glumly. They dance past the giant Calder mobile. They're

singing.

FERRIS AND SLOANE

I BEEN ALL 'ROUND THIS GREAT BIG WORLD

AND I'VE SEEN ALL KINDS OF GIRLS

YEAH, BUT I COULDN'T WAIT TO GET

BACK IN THE STATES

BACK TO THE CUTEST GIRLS IN THE WORLD

I WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA

I WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA

114 EXT. STREET 114

Ferris and Sloane burst out the doors garnering the annoyed

stares of the business people busily going in and out of the

building. Cameron politely waits his turn to exit. Ferris

and Sloane head down the street. Cameron follows.

FERRIS AND SLOANE

I WISH THEY ALL COULD BE CALIFORNIA GIRLS!

115 EXT. CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE 115

Giant old monolith.

116 INT. CHICAGO MERCANTILE EXCHANGE. TRADING ROOM 116

Traders are frantically buying and selling commodities.

117 INT. GALLERY 117

Ferris, Cameron and Sloane are sitting in the gallery

watching the proceedings.

SLOANE

Do you love me?

FERRIS

Do you love me?

SLOANE

I asked you first.

FERRIS

Yes. You?

SLOANE

Yes.

FERRIS

Would I trash a day of education to

be with you if I didn't love you?

SLOANE

Yes.

FERRIS

Would I risk damaging a deep and

wonderfully enriching relationship

with my parents if I didn't love you?

SLOANE

Yes.

FERRIS

Would I have introduced you as my wife

if I didn't love you?

SLOANE

Wait a minute. That was a lie.

FERRIS

True.

Ferris puts his arm around Sloane.

FERRIS

Would you want to get married? I

mean if I wasn't an asshole.

SLOANE

Sure.

FERRIS

(serious)

Today?

Sloane stares at him. Is he serious.

FERRIS

I'm game.

SLOANE

No way!

FERRIS

I'll do it, if you will.

Cameron suddenly adds his two cents.

CAMERON

You need a blood test.

Ferris looks around at him.

FERRIS

Huh?

CAMERON

If your blood's not compatible,

you could produce a pinhead. The

state requires a blood test.

FERRIS

So?

CAMERON

So, you can't get married today.

FERRIS

Tomorrow?

CAMERON

If you get a blood test today.

SLOANE

I'm not getting married.

CAMERON

I'm with you, babe.

FERRIS

Why not?

SLOANE

What do you mean, why not? Think

about it.

FERRIS

Besides being too young and your

father hating my guts and not

having any place to live and feeling

awkward about being the only cheer-

leader with a husband, give me a

good reason why not.

CAMERON

I'll give you two. My mother and

father.

Ferris and Sloane look at him curiously.

CAMERON

They're married and they hate each other.

(to Ferris)

You've seen them. Am I right?

FERRIS

You're father's a toad and your

Mom's always wired out, but so what?

They're old. That's natural.

CAMERON

It makes me puke. Seeing people

treat each other like that. It's

like the car. He loves the car.

He hates his wife.

SLOANE

My parents are divorced. So what?

It's not like it doesn't happen

ten thousand times a day.

CAMERON

Just because it happens doesn't

make it right. Are you comfortable

with it?

SLOANE

No. It's not something I can get comfortable

with. I've tried. Are yours divorced?

CAMERON

They may as well be.

SLOANE

Do you think they're staying together

because of you?

Cameron hasn't seen it that way. He shrugs.

SLOANE

Do they like you?

It hasn't occured to Cameron that his parents might not like

him. That parental love might not be a given.

CAMERON

Yeah. Sure.

SLOANE

Consider this...my father canned me

and my brother and my Mom for a

twenty five year old dipso with fake

tits. He dropped us like a rock. Everything

was cool at our house. I thought so.

We all thought so. Then BLAM! It's over.

FERRIS

(to CAMERA)

This is all news to me. She keeps a

pretty good secret.

SLOANE

(to Cameron)

It was pure selfishness. When I have

a kid, I don't care how much I want

something, if it's gonna screw-up the

kid, forget it.

FERRIS

(to CAMERA)

She's not lying.

CAMERON

You could change.

SLOANE

Yeah. But I'm gonna try not to.

I'm gonna think about it. I'm

gonna try to prevent it.

FERRIS

This is optomism. It's a common

trait with my age group. Adults

think it's cute, it's like a charming

quick that infests youth. But it's

a cool thing and I think, deep down,

crusty old shits wish they had some.

They wish they had her, too.

(points to Sloane)

Sorry. She's taken.

CAMERON

I'd rather not have my family break

apart, thank you.

SLOANE

Well, you know what? It ain't up

to you. It's out of your hands.

CAMERON

So, I in other words, I should just

sit back and watch it crumble?

SLOANE

You're merely an inhabitant in their

universe.

FERRIS

Frightening choice of words.

SLOANE

They call the shots. When you split

from them, you call the shots.

CAMERON

So, you're saying I should run away?