Car Wash

The Dee-Luxe Car Wash opens on a typical Friday to a parade of unusual visitors: a hysterical wealthy Beverly Hills woman arrives with her carsick son, and the unscrupulous evangelist Daddy Rich arrives with his singing entourage, The Wilson Sisters. The mood is unsettled as rumors of a 'pop bottle bomber' circulate among employees and customers. Owner Mr. B and the staff brace for the unpredictable day.

Mr. B frets about the future of his car wash, worried that a nearby competitor could drive him out of business. He keeps costs tight and resists new ideas from the crew, who sense the pressure but are ignored. The tension threads through the morning as everyone wonders if the business can survive.

Mr. B's son Irwin, a left-wing college student, decides to spend the day working with the 'working class' employees. He smokes pot as he navigates the busy shop, excited by the idea of seeing the job from the ground up. He triggers the first 'human car wash' by walking through motion sensors and accepts the spectacle, albeit while under the influence.

A taxi driver searches for a prostitute named Marleen who had stiffed him earlier, while staff fear a notorious 'pop bottle bomber' is present. The supposed 'bomb' is revealed to be simply a urine sample the man is carrying to the hospital for a liver test. The scare unsettles employees, customers, and Mr. B.

Abdullah Mohammed Akbar, formerly known as Duane, is a tall Black revolutionary who has recently converted to Islam. He dismisses Daddy Rich's preaching when the quartet visits and collects donations from the employees. His presence stirs tension with Lonnie and the others as he challenges the status quo.

Lonnie, the foreman, tries to mentor Abdullah while juggling two young children and the scrutiny of his parole officer. He cautions Abdullah about a life of crime and urges him to stay with the honest path. The mentorship interplays with the broader workplace tensions.

Abdullah confronts Lindy about his cross-dressing, sparking a sharp exchange. Lindy fires back with confidence, saying, 'Honey, I am more man than you'll ever be and more woman than you'll ever get.' The clash highlights the diverse personalities within the car wash crew.

Theodore Chauncey 'T.C.' Elcott is determined to win a radio call-in contest to land rock concert tickets and to persuade his estranged girlfriend Mona to join him. His perseverance pays off as he pursues the prize and reaches out to Mona across the street where she works as a waitress. His efforts bring a spark of romance to the otherwise chaotic environment.

Musicians Floyd and Lloyd rehearse their jazz-blues dance moves after their shift ends, turning the car wash into an impromptu stage. Their audition plans cause puzzled reactions from customers as they perform their routine. The playful performance contrasts with the workplace friction around them.

Justin clashes with his girlfriend Loretta, who urges him to return to college, but he resents the idea that education will change his chances. Across the way, Snapper the elderly shoe-shine man, a Daddy Rich follower, observes the day's happenings with wry commentary. The tension between ambition and class continues to simmer.

Mr. B keeps flirting with Marsha, the young cashier, to escape his troubled home life and mask his anxiety about the business's future. He clings to small comforts as the rival car wash looms a few miles away. The personal and professional pressures collide throughout the day.

At the end of a tense day, Mr. B fires Abdullah for unexplained absences over the past weeks. Abdullah leaves the office, angry and unmoored, wondering what comes next. The firing foreshadows the deeper cracks in the shop's fragile camaraderie.

Abdullah later reappears in the office with a gun, intending to rob the business. Lonnie confronts him and tries to dissuade him, recognizing the danger of such an act and the path it would lead to. The confrontation marks a violent turning point in the day.

The chaotic Friday at Dee-Luxe Car Wash ends with each character departing to their own destinies. The staff and customers carry the day’s tensions and unresolved questions, leaving the shop in a fragile equilibrium. The ending underscores the day's mix of struggle, humor, and sorrow.