His Girl Friday Page #18

HILDY:

(writing)

"Production for use only." Well,

maybe that's the answer.

WILLIAMS:

It's the only answer. Everything has

a use and if we let it be used for

its purpose, we could solve all our

problems. Food was meant to be eaten,

not stored away in restaurants while

poor people starved; clothing was

meant to be worn, not piled up in

stores while people went naked.

Doesn't that make sense?

CLOSEUP HILDY:

HILDY:

(thoughtfully)

Yes, that makes a lot of sense, Earl.

WILLIAM'S VOICE

Just use things for what they were

meant, that's all.

HILDY:

Sure.

(she studies him a

moment)

What's the purpose of a gun, Earl?

CLOSEUP WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS:

A gun?

(he thinks -- then a

revealing smile breaks

out)

Why -- to shoot, of course.

MED. CLOSE TWO SHOT

HILDY:

Is that how you came to shoot the

policeman?

WILLIAMS:

Sure. You see, I'd never had a gun

in my hand before and I didn't know

what to do with it. Well, when I get

stuck, I know that there's an answer

for everything in production for

use. So it came to me in a flash:

what's a gun for? To shoot! So I

shot. Simple isn't it?

HILDY:

(writing)

Very simple, Earl.

WILLIAMS:

There's nothing crazy about that, is

there?

HILDY:

No, Earl, not at all.

(she indicates the

flowers)

Who sent you the flowers, Earl?

WILLIAMS:

(reverently)

Miss Mollie Malloy. She's a wonderful

person.

HILDY:

(pointing to picture

pinned on wall)

Isn't that her picture?

WILLIAMS:

(turning toward it)

Yes. Isn't she beautiful?

INSERT:
PICTURE OF MOLLIE

HILDY'S VOICE

If you should be pardoned, are you

figuring on marrying Mollie?

EARL'S VOICE

Oh, no, she's much too good for me.

HARTMAN'S VOICE

How'd you get in here?

MEDIUM SHOT:

Sheriff Hartman has come into the scene. Hildy turns toward

him.

HILDY:

Same way you did.

(pointing)

Through that gate.

HARTMAN:

I gave strict orders that nobody was

to interview Williams without my

permission.

HILDY:

All right, then, I'll just run the

story that Sheriff Hartman is afraid

to let reporters interview his

prisoner. Of course, with election

coming, that might do you a lot of

harm, but just as you say.

HARTMAN:

Now, wait a minute! I'm not afraid

of anything. What were you going to

write about Williams?

HILDY:

Oh, nothing much. Just that the state

had proved he was sane -- and he

admits it himself. If you don't want

me to run it --

HARTMAN:

(beaming)

Oh, that'll be all right, Hildy. Go

ahead, run it. And you can say I

treated him well, too.

(turning toward

Williams)

'Lo, Earl. How are you feeling?

WILLIAMS:

Fine, thanks, Sheriff.

HARTMAN:

That's good, Earl. Oh, they've got

another alienist to see you. He ought

to be here any minute. Don't go to

sleep, will you?

WILLIAMS:

I won't.

HARTMAN:

(to Hildy)

Hildy, how'd you like a couple of

tickets for the hanging?

HILDY:

(in a low voice so

Williams won't

overhear)

No, thanks Sheriff. I'm leaving town

tonight.

HARTMAN:

(just as loud as ever)

You ought to stay over. You always

wrote a good hanging story, Hildy.

HILDY:

That's awful kind of you, Sheriff.

I've got to get started on my

interview. See you later.

WILLIAMS:

Don't forget about production for

use.

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