Written and directed by Paul Brickman.

Joel Goodsen

• [voiceover] The dream is always the same. Instead of going home, I go to the neighbors'. I ring, but nobody answers. The door is open, so I go inside. I'm looking around for the people, but nobody seems to be there. And then I hear the shower running, so I go upstairs to see what's what. Then I see her; this... girl, this incredible girl. I mean, what she's doing there I don't know, because she doesn't live there... but it's a dream, so I go with it. "Who's there?" she says. "Joel," I say. "What are you doing here?" "I don't know what I'm doing here; what are you doing here?" "I'm taking a shower," she says. Then I give her: "You want me to go?" "No," she says; "I want you to wash my back." So now, I'm gettin' enthusiastic about this dream. So I go to her, but she's hard to find through all the steam and stuff; I keep losing her. Finally I get to the door... and I... find myself in a room full of kids taking their college boards. I'm over three hours late; I've got two minutes to take the whole test. I've... just made a terrible mistake. I'll never get to college. My life is ruined.

• [about Lana] It was great the way her mind worked: No guilt, no doubts, no fear. None of my specialties. Just this shameless pursuit of immediate material gratification. What a capitalist! She told me I could make more money in one night than I'd make all year. Enough to pay for my father's car. She told me she'd be my girlfriend. She told me a lot of things. I believed them all. So, she introduced me to her friends. I introduced her to my friends.

Guido

• Joel, you look like a smart kid. I'm going to tell you something I'm sure you'll understand. You're having fun now, right? Right, Joel? The time of your life. In a sluggish economy, never ever fuck with another man's livelihood. Now, if you're smart, and I hope you are, you're not gonna make me come back here.

Dialogue

Miles: No guts, Goodson.

Joel: The problem was I just wasn't attracted to her.

Miles: That should never stop you.

Joel: She seemed too big.

Miles: It could've worked out.

Joel: I thought I'd get into trouble.

Miles: Sometimes you have to say, "What the fuck!" Make your move!

Joel: That's easy for you to say. You're all set. You're probably going to Harvard. Me, I don't want to make a mistake, jeopardize my future!

Miles: Joel, let me tell you something. Every now and then, say "What the fuck." "What the fuck" gives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity, opportunity makes your future... So your parents are going out of town. You got the place all to yourself.

Joel: Yeah.

Miles: What the fuck...If you can't say it, you can't do it.

Lana: This is a beautiful place, Ralph. Is it all yours?

Joel: It's my folks', actually.

Lana: Do you know what it's worth?

Joel: A lot, probably.

Lana: Oh, yeah! Real estate? It's fabulous!

Joel: Look, Lana... uh, my name isn't really Ralph. It's Joel.

Lana: Mmmm. I'll be needing 300 bucks...Joel.

Joel: You're kidding.

Lana: No, I don't believe that I am.

Joel: Can I send it to you?

Lana: Can you send it to me, Joel?

Joel: Well, uh, it's just that I don't have that much here in the house.

Lana: How much do you have?

Joel: I have 50 dollars.

Lana: 50 dollars? What are we going to do about this, Joel?

Joel: I don't know.

[pauses]

Joel: I, uh, have a bond at the bank. I could go cash that.

Lana: I'm not good at waiting for people.

Joel: I'll be quick.

Lana: Give it a try.

Joel: So is this Guido guy... he's your "manager"?

Lana: That's right.

Joel: Or a pimp?

Lana: Now that's quick Joel. Have you always been this quick, or is this something new?

Miles: I don't believe this! I've got a trig midterm tomorrow, and I'm being chased by Guido the killer pimp.

Joel: You're right. You are absolutely right to respond this way. I did not have a doctor's appointment. But I will tell you exactly what happened. "Unexcused." You see, Nurse Bolan lf you write "unexcused," I fail two mid-terms. It'll wreck my whole grade point average! If you'd just stop and listen to me, I'll explain everything. The truth is, my parents are away, and I met this girl. A call girl, actually. She came to my house. Look, you're writing again! This is not "unexcused"! If you will just listen to me, then you'll understand, Nurse Bolan. Why? Why won't you listen to me? [Nurse Bolen waves goodbye to Joel]

Girl: I had a doctor's appointment.

Joel: '[pushing the girl out of the way] Excuse me. It wasn't the girl, it was my father's car. I put my father's car into Lake Michigan and I had to get it fixed. [Nurse Bolan waves goodbye again] Just give me a break. [grabs Nurse Bolan by her lapels] Let me put it this way. I have spent the last four years of my life busting my butt in this shithole! I'm sorry. I don't think I can leave until I get just a little compassion from you.

Taglines

• Meet the model son who's been good too long.

• There's a time for playing it safe and a time for Risky Business.

Cast

• Tom Cruise - Joel Goodsen
• Rebecca De Mornay - Lana
• Joe Pantoliano - Guido
• Richard Masur - Bill Rutherford
• Bronson Pinchot - Barry
• Curtis Armstrong - Miles
• Nicholas Pryor - Joel's Father
• Janet Carroll - Joel's Mother
• Shera Danese - Vicki
• Raphael Sbarge - Glenn
• Bruce A. Young - Jackie
• Kevin Anderson - Chuck
• Sarah Partridge - Kessler
• Megan Mullally - Call Girl