All the King's Men Page #17

JUDGE:

Of course. I was their counsel for

over ten years.

WILLIE:

Remember how you got the job?

JACK:

How did you find out?

WILLIE:

(hands the Judge some

papers)

Do you remember how you got the job?

The Judge examines the papers.

WILLIE:

You know, Judge, dirt's a funny thing.

Some of it rubs off on everybody.

How did you get the job, Judge?

Blackmail?

JUDGE:

(to Jack)

I swear I never even remembered his

name. Isn't that remarkable, Jack? I

never even remembered his name. It's

all so long ago it's hard for me to

realize it ever happened.

WILLIE:

Yeah. But it did.

JUDGE:

Yes, it did. But it's difficult for

me to realize it.

JACK:

For me too, Judge.

JUDGE:

Thanks for that much.

WILLIE:

Well, I guess you know what the next

move is, don't you?

JUDGE:

Yes, I do. Jack Burden. Willie Stark's

hatchet man.

JACK:

(to Willie)

I asked you... how did you find out?

JUDGE:

This would never stand at law, not

for a minute. It happened over twenty-

five years ago, and you could never

get any testimony. Everybody is dead.

WILLIE:

Everybody except you, Judge. You're

alive. And people think you're a

certain kind of man. And you just

couldn't bear for people to think

otherwise.

JUDGE:

Ever since then I... I've done my

duty. I... I'm responsible for many

good things.

(looks at the papers

again)

But I also did this.

WILLIE:

Yes, yes, you did.

JACK:

Judge, I beg of you, call and release

your votes, for your sake.

JUDGE:

You have tender sensibilities for a

hatchet man.

(goes to the door)

Good night, gentlemen.

WILLIE:

How about my answer?

JUDGE:

You'll have it in the morning.

WILLIE:

I want it tonight.

JUDGE:

In the morning. Good night, gentlemen.

There is silence. Then the three men get up to go. The Judge

closes the door behind them.

Interior:
Stanton Hallway, Night

As the three men walk to the front door.

JACK:

How did you find out?

WILLIE:

We've got a lot to do. It's getting

late, Jack. Let's get back to town.

JACK:

You know we're through, don't you?

WILLIE:

Aw, you don't mean that, boy.

The front door opens, and Adam and Anne come in.

STANTON:

What are you doing here?

WILLIE:

It's all right, doc. Just here to

discuss some politics with the Judge.

STANTON:

Oh, I see.

(starts upstairs)

Well, good night.

WILLIE:

Good night.

JACK:

(to Anne)

Did you give him --

WILLIE:

Wait a minute, Jack --

JACK:

Answer me. Did you give --

A shot is fired. They turn and rush into the Judge's study.

They find the Judge face downward in his leather chair. Adam

and Jack kneel beside him. Willie, holding on tightly to

Anne's arm, stands in the doorway. Jack picks up the Judge's

pistol and looks at Adam.

DISSOLVE TO:

Exterior:
Stanton Home, Night

Jack comes out of the house, followed by Anne and Adam.

STANTON:

Aren't you going back with him?

JACK:

No.

STANTON:

Why not? You belong with him. Jack,

how could you have done it? When

Anne brought me those papers she

told me you promised not to tell

Stark until...

JACK:

Yeah. I know.

(walks away)

Well, I kept my promise.

Adam looks unbelievingly at Anne. She looks away.

STANTON:

Anne? Anne?

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

Interior:
Jack's Hotel Room (State Capital), Day

Jack looks out the window. A portable radio is blaring out

the news.

ANNOUNCER'S VOICE

From all over the state they're

streaming in. From the hill country

and farms, the lumber camps... by

boat, by train, by horse, and on

foot. Willie Stark's army.

Through Jack's window we see the street blocked with cars

and people, all headed for the State Capitol Building. Anne

is in the crowd, trying to get across the street. Seeing

Jack in the window, she pushes her way across and enters the

hotel. He slams the window shut and comes back into the room.

ANNOUNCER'S VOICE

The state capital is filled with

rumors, one of which is that Stark

is planning to seize power by force.

As commander of the state militia,

he has --

Jack turns it off. He goes over to his bed and starts putting

clothes into a valise. There is a knock on the door. He

ignores it. Another knock.

JACK:

Come in. The door's open.

Anne enters.

ANNE:

Jack...

JACK:

What do you want?

She starts to cry. He grabs her, pulling her face close to

his.

JACK:

(bitterly)

No, I want to see you cry.

He lets her go and she falls to the bed, sobbing.

JACK:

Stop it!

ANNE:

I called you. All afternoon I've

been calling you.

JACK:

I know. I was here.

ANNE:

You've got to tell Adam. You've got

to see him.

JACK:

Tell him what?

ANNE:

He knows about me and...

JACK:

About you and Willie?

ANNE:

(nods)

I tried to explain to him. I... I

tried to explain to him that it wasn't

the way he thought it was.

JACK:

How was it, Anne? You tell me.

ANNE:

He hit me, Jack. My own brother...

he hit me.

JACK:

Your brother is an old-fashioned

man. He believes in his sister's

honor. Me, I'm a modern man.

(slams clothes into

the valise)

The twentieth-century type. I run.

ANNE:

(rises)

I'm frightened, Jack.

JACK:

For who? Your brother, or Willie?

ANNE:

(quietly)

We're through.

JACK:

Who's through with who?

ANNE:

He called me this afternoon. He's

going back to Lucy. He said it was

better that way.

JACK:

Better for who? Him.

ANNE:

Both of us.

JACK:

Did he tell you that too when he

asked you to betray the Judge? At

least I walked out on him.

ANNE:

Oh Jack... help me, please, please.

Adam's all I've got left now. Oh,

Jack, if you ever loved me...

JACK:

If I ever loved you.

(pause)

I'll go find Adam.

He takes up his coat.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXTERIOR:
HOSPITAL SITE, DAY

A large billboard. It reads HERE ON THIS SITE WILL BE ERECTED

THE GOVERNOR STARK HOSPITAL -- TO HEAL SICKNESS -- TO EASE

PAIN -- FREE. NOT AS A CHARITY BUT AS A RIGHT. WILLIE STARK

Adam enters, looks at the sign, and walks on.

Exterior:
Street Near Capitol Building, Day

Crowds of people headed toward the building, some with WIN

WITH WILLIE signs. A marching band plays music for them.

Exterior:
Capitol Building, Day

Crowd waiting outside the building. Mounted policemen keep

them in line. From a large platform, loaded with people,

comes the chant "We want Willie, we want Willie." Jack pushes

his way through the people and speaks to a policeman standing

guard on the Capitol steps.

COP:

Where do you think you're going?

(recognizes Jack)

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize

you.

JACK:

Do you know who Dr. Stanton is?

COP:

Yes sir.

JACK:

Did he try to come through here today?

COP:

Haven't seen him, sir.

JACK:

Well, can you check the other

entrances?

2ND COP

There's no other entrances today.

The other entrances are blocked off.

Orders are to take no chances.

COP:

If you care to come inside and wait,

Mr. Burden, we can find you a seat.

JACK:

No, thanks. I'll wait out here. If

Dr. Stanton shows up, let me know.

Pass the word along to the boys,

will you?

COP:

Yes sir.

Jack turns and looks at the large crowd. A voice from a public

address loudspeaker begins to yell out commands to the crowd.

LOUDSPEAKER:

All right now. Everybody... that

means everybody... let's let Willie

know we're here! All together: WE

WANT WILLIE. WE WANT WILLIE.

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