The Blues Brothers

 

 

Screenplay by       John Landis

          Dan Aykroyd

 

Produced by       Robert K. Weiss

 

Directed by       John Landis

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

John Belushi      Joliet Jake

Dan Aykroyd      Elwood Blues

James Brown      Reverend James

Cab Calloway     Curtis

Ray Charles      Ray

Carrie Fisher     Mystery Woman

Aretha Franklin      Soul Food Café Owner

Henry Gibson      Nazi Leader

John Candy     Burton Mercer

 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

 

WALKING THROUGH THE PRISON

 

Jake is escorted by two Guards down a jail hall.

 

PRISONER

Hey!!

 

 

IN THE PAROLE OFFICE

 

GUARD ONE

Well, this is it.

 

He opens the door and all three of them enter the room.

 

GUARD TWO

What wing?

 

GUARD ONE

Maximum wing, block 9.

 

GUARD TWO

Standard release?

 

GUARD ONE

Parole, 3 out of 5, good behavior.

 

GUARD TWO

Gimme a minute...

 

He gets Jake's belongings.

 

GUARD TWO

One Timex digital watch, broken. One unused prophylactic. One soiled.

 

Outside view of Elwood pulling up to the jail entrance.

 

GUARD TWO

One black suit jacket. One pair of black suit pants. One hat, black. One pair of sunglasses. Twenty three dollars and seven cents. Sign here.

 

Jake signs an "X" on the form.

 

Opening Credits start rolling.

 

SONG: "She Caught the Katy" (background music)

 

 

JAKE AND ELWOOD IN THE CAR

 

JAKE

What's this?

 

ELWOOD

What?

 

JAKE

This car. This stupid car. Where's the Cadillac? The Caddy? Where's the Caddy?

 

ELWOOD

The what?

 

JAKE

The Cadillac we used to have. The Blues Mobile!

 

ELWOOD

I traded it.

 

JAKE

You traded the Blues Mobile for this?

 

ELWOOD

No. For a microphone.

 

JAKE

A microphone? Okay I can see that. Well, what the hell is this?

 

ELWOOD

This was a bargain. I picked it up at the Mount Prospect City Police auction last spring. It's an old Mount Prospect Police Car. They were practically giving them away.

 

JAKE

Well, thank you pal, the day I get out of prison, my own brother picks me up in a police car.

 

Fog horn and warning bell sounds.

 

ELWOOD

You don't like it?

 

JAKE

No, I don't like it.

 

Elwood drives over a raising draw bridge.

 

JAKE

Cars got a lot of pick up.

 

ELWOOD

It's got a cop motor, a four hundred and forty cubic inch plant, it's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks, it was a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas. Whaddya say? Is it the new Blues Mobile or what?

 

JAKE

Fix the cigarette lighter.

 

 

OUTSIDE THE ORPHANAGE

 

JAKE

What are we doing here?

 

ELWOOD

You promised you'd visit the penguin the day you got out.

 

JAKE

Yeah? So, I lied to her.

 

ELWOOD

You can't lie to a nun. We gotta go in and visit the penguin.

 

JAKE

No fucking way!

 

 

INSIDE THE ORPHANAGE

 

Jake and Elwood go in and climb the stairs until they reach a door. Just before Elwood knocks on the door, a voice is heard from inside.

 

NUN

Who is it?

 

ELWOOD

Jake and Elwood.

 

NUN

Come in.

 

They go in. The door shuts behind them.

 

NUN

Hello boys, nice to see you. Please, have a seat.

 

Jack and Elwood sit on seats at back of room.

 

NUN

No no boys. Come over here in front of me. I want to see your faces.

 

They shuffle up a bit closer.

 

NUN

The county took a tax assessment of this property last month. They want five thousand dollars.

 

ELWOOD

Doesn't the church have to pay that?

 

NUN

They would if they were interested in keeping the place, but they aren't. The Arch Bishop wants to sell this building outright to the board of Education.

 

ELWOOD

What's gonna happen to you?

 

NUN

I'll be sent to the missions.

 

JAKE

Forget it, five grand; no problem, we'll have it for you in the morning. Let's go Elwood.

 

NUN

NO NO! I will not take your filthy stolen money.

 

JAKE

Well then, I guess you're really up shit creek.

 

The nun hits Jake on the hand with a ruler.

 

NUN

I beg your pardon what did you say?

 

JAKE

I offered to help you. You refused to take our money, then I said "I guess you're really up shit creek"

 

She hit's him again.

 

ELWOOD

Christ Jake take it easy, man

 

NUN

Elwood!

 

She starts hitting them both as the language deteriorates.

 

ELWOOD

Ah you fat penguin!

 

The ruler breaks and the Nun reaches for a sword. Jake and Elwood go tumbling down the stairs.

 

NUN

You are such a disappointing pair. I prayed so hard for you. It saddens and hurts me that the two young men whom I raised to believe in the ten commandments have returned to me as two thieves, with filthy mouths and bad attitudes. Get out! And don't come back until you've redeemed yourselves.

 

She disappears back into her office and the door mysteriously closes.

 

CURTIS

Boys, you gotta learn not to talk to nuns that way. Jake! Elwood!

 

JAKE & ELWOOD

Curtis!

 

CURTIS

Hey, buy you boys a drink?

 

 

CURTIS'S KITCHEN

 

CURTIS

Boys, things are bad. They're gonna sell this place to the board of education and I'll be out on the street. That money's gotta be in the Cook County Assessors office within 11 days.

 

JAKE

They wouldn't turn you out would they?

 

CURTIS

Shit. What's one more old nigger to the board of education?

 

ELWOOD

Curtis, you and the penguin are the the only family we got. And you're the only one that was ever good to us. Singing Elmore James tunes and blowing the harp for us down here.

 

CURTIS

Well, the sister was right. You boys could use a little churching up. Slide on down to the Triple Rock and catch Reverend Cleophis. You boys listen to what he's got to say.

 

JAKE

Curtis, I don't wanna listen to no jive ass preacher talking to me about heaven and hell.

 

CURTIS

Jake, you get wise! You get to church!

 

 

AT THE TRIPLE ROCK CHURCH

 

MC

And now, this weeks sermon is from our beloved the Reverend Cleophis James.

 

REVEREND JAMES

And now people. And now people. When I woke up this morning, I heard a disturbing sound. I said, when I woke up this morning I heard a disturbing sound. What I heard was the jingle-jangle of a thousand lost souls. And I'm talking about the souls of all the men and women, departed from this life. Wait a minute, the Lord says the souls of us here on earth is, secret of divine life, they'll not find. Because it's too late... Too late yeah, too late for them to ever see again, the light they once chose not to follow, don't be lost when the time comes. For the day of the Lord cometh, out of deep in the night. Amen. Amen.

 

SONG: "The Old Landmark" (congregation singing and dancing).

 

ELWOOD

Jake, you alright?

 

Ray of sunlight shines through the church onto Jake.

 

JAKE

The band...

(louder)

The band...

 

REVEREND JAMES

Do you see the light?

 

JAKE

(louder)

The band!

 

REVEREND JAMES

Do you see the light?

 

ELWOOD

What light?

 

REVEREND JAMES

Have you seen the light?

 

JAKE

Yes, Yes! Jesus H. god damned bastard Christ, I have seen the light!

 

Jake starts dancing with the others.

 

JAKE

The band Elwood. The band!

 

ELWOOD

The band?... The band. The band? The band!

 

REVEREND JAMES

Praise God.

 

ELWOOD

And God bless the United States of America.

 

 

JAKE AND ELWOOD, IN THEIR CAR

 

SONG: "Soothe me" (In the background.)

 

JAKE

We'll put the band back together, do a few gigs, we get some bread. Bang! Five thousand bucks.

 

ELWOOD

Yeah, well, getting the band back together might not be that easy.

 

JAKE

What're you talking about?

 

ELWOOD

They split, they all took straight jobs.

 

JAKE

Yeah so you know where they are. You said you were gonna keep in touch with them

 

ELWOOD

I got a coupla leads, a few phone numbers, but I mean, how many of them visited or even wrote you huh?

 

JAKE

They're not the kinda guys who write letters. You were outside, I was inside, you were s'posed to keep in touch with the band. I kept asking you if we were gonna play again.

 

ELWOOD

Well, what was I gonna do? Take away you're only hope? Take away the very thing that kept you going in there? I took the liberty of bullshitting you, okay?

 

JAKE

You lied to me.

 

ELWOOD

It wasn't lies, it was just bullshit.

 

Jake and Elwood are in the car, and go through a yellow traffic light. Police lights flash in the rear view mirror.

 

ELWOOD

Shit!

 

JAKE

What?

 

ELWOOD

Rollers.

 

JAKE

No?

 

ELWOOD

Yeah.

 

JAKE

Shit.

 

Elwood pulls over as directed and an officer approaches the car.

 

ELWOOD

What? What did I do?

 

OFFICER DANIEL

You failed to stop at a red signal.

 

ELWOOD

The light was yellow sir.

 

OFFICER DANIEL

May I see your license please?

 

He takes the license back to the squad car.

 

JAKE

Goddamnit!

 

ELWOOD

Man I haven't been pulled over in six months. I bet those cops have got SCMODS.

 

JAKE

SCMODS?

 

ELWOOD

State, County, Municipal, Offender, Data, System.

 

The two officers return to Jake and Elwood's car.

 

OFFICER DANIEL

Elwood, we show your license currently under suspension. Step out of the car please.

 

Elwood starts the car and drives off. The officers run back to their car and follow.

 

JAKE

First you trade the Caddilac for a microphone, then you lie to me about the band, now you're gonna put me right back in the joint.

 

ELWOOD

They're not gonna catch us. We're on a mission from God.

 

JAKE

Elwood!

 

OFFICER MOUNT

(into CB)

We are in high speed pursuit northbound on Cortlen Avenue. Black and white 1974 Dodge sedan with Illinios plates. Request assistance.

 

Elwood turns into a parking lot. Officers pursue.

 

ELWOOD

It would be alright if we could just get back on the expressway.

 

JAKE

This don't look like no expressway to me!

 

ELWOOD

Don't yell at me.

 

JAKE

What the hell do you want me to do motorhead?

 

ELWOOD

Well, try not to be so negative all the time. Why don't you offer some constructive criticism?

 

JAKE

You got us into this parking lot pal, so you get us out.

 

ELWOOD

You want outta this parking lot? Okay.

 

 

INSIDE SHOPPING MALL, "TOYS R US''

 

SHOP LADY

Will there be anything else?

 

CUSTOMER

Yes, do you have a Miss Piggy?

 

Car speeds through toystore and continues on through the rest of the mall. Two Squad cars follows, the original and a backup.

 

JAKE

Hanson Burgers.

 

ELWOOD

Yeah. Lots of space in this mall.

 

JAKE

Disco dancing hair cuts.

 

ELWOOD

Yeah. Baby clothes.

 

JAKE

This place has got everything.

 

ELWOOD

New Oldsmobiles are in early this year.

 

ELWOOD

Pier One Imports.

 

BACKUP OFFICERS

Oh Shit!

 

Backup squad car lands on it's roof and stops.

 

BACKUP OFFICER

They broke my watch!

 

First squad car crashes too.

 

Jake and Elwood escape through a shop window to outside.

 

OFFICER MOUNT

I'm gonna catch that sucker, if it's the last thing I ever do!

 

SONG: "Peter Gunn Theme"

 

 

OUTSIDE ELWOODS PLACE

 

ELWOOD

Nice place, huh?

 

Mystery Women blows up the front doors with a rocket launcher.

 

Jake and Elwood recover and go inside.

 

ELWOOD

Hey Sam... Hey Lloyd, anybody call for me on the phone?

 

LLOYD

No, no calls. Some guy left this card. Cop. Said he'd be back.

 

ELWOOD

This here's my brother Jake. He just got outta the joint. He's gonna be staying with me for a few weeks.

 

LLOYD

Oh OK...

 

OLD MAN

Did you get me my cheese whiz, Boy?

 

Elwood tosses a can of Cheeze Whiz to the old man.

 

 

ELWOODS ROOM

 

ELWOOD

Well, it ain't much, but it's home.

 

JAKE

How often does the train go by?

 

ELWOOD

So often you won't even notice it.

 

JAKE

How you gonna get the band back together, Mr. Hot-Roder? The cops got your name, you address.

 

ELWOOD

No, they don't got my address. I falsified my renewal. Put down 1060 West Addison.

 

JAKE

1060 West Addison? That's Wrigley Field.

 

ELWOOD

I gotta hit the sack.

 

Notices Jake asleep in his bed.

 

ELWOOD

Hey you sleaze, my bed!

 

Elwood sleeps in a chair.

 

 

THE NEXT MORNING

 

MERCER

This, gentlemen, is the elegant abode of one Elwood Blues.

 

OFFICER MOUNT

Thanks for your help Mr. Mercer.

 

MERCER

You know, I kinda liked the Wrigley Field bit.

 

OFFICER MOUNT

Yeah, real cute.

 

They enter the building and go to Elwoods door.

 

MERCER

Stand back.

 

As Mr. Mercer kicks the door in, the Mystery Woman flicks the switch on her remote control, and the whole building blows up. Jake and Elwood get up and brush themselves off.

 

ELWOOD

It's almost nine o'clock. We gotta go to work.

 

 

MRS. TORANTINO'S HOUSE

 

JAKE

Mrs. Toronto?

 

MRS. TORANTINO

Torantino.

 

JAKE

Ma'am, do you have a Thomas Malone or Louis Marini living here?

 

MRS. TORANTINO

Not any more they moved out a long time ago. I don't take in borders, not for a long time.

 

ELWOOD

May we come in ma'am?

 

MRS. TORANTINO

Please.

 

They enter.

 

JAKE

Did they leave a forwarding address? A phone number?

 

MRS. TORANTINO

No.

 

ELWOOD

Did they live quietly? What were there personal habits?

 

MRS. TORANTINO

They were good boys, but they made a lot of racket at night. Are you the police?

 

ELWOOD

No ma'am. We're musicians.

 

They return to the car and prepare to leave. Mrs. Torantino chases them.

 

MRS. TORANTINO

Mr. Man! Mr. Man! Mr. Man!

 

JAKE

Yes, ma'am?

 

MRS. TORANTINO

They left this card, maybe it help you?

 

 

THE HOLIDAY INN – THE ARMADA ROOM

 

Murph and the Magic Tones are playing to an almost empty room.

 

MURPH

Thank you. Your marvelous. Your marvelous. Thank you. I'm Murph and these are the Magic Tones. Steve "The colonel" Cropper, Donald Duck Dunn, Willie "Too Big" Hall and Tom "Bones" Malone. We'll be back with the Magic Tones for the Armada Room's two hour disco swing party after this short break. Til then, don't you go changing.

 

They all meet Jake and Elwood at one of the tables.

 

WILLIE

So Jake, you're out, you're free, you're rehabilitated, what's next what's happening, whatcha gonna do? You got the money you owe us motherfucker?