His Girl Friday Page #20

MEDIUM SHOT:

MURPHY:

(finally irritated)

Go into your dance! This is the Press

Room. We're busy.

WILSON:

Why don't you go and see your boy-

friend?

ENDICOTT:

(winks at the others)

But you'll have to hurry up -- he

left a call for seven A.M.

MOLLIE:

(through her teeth)

It's a wonder a bolt of lightning

don't come down and strike you all

dead!

From o.s. comes sound of the gallows. Mollie gasps.

ENDICOTT:

(suddenly uncomfortable)

Don't get hysterical, kid.

MOLLIE:

(begins to sob)

Shame on you!

CLOSE SHOT MOLLIE -- TAKING IN MURPHY

MOLLIE:

(hysterically)

A poor little fellow that never meant

nobody no harm! Sitting there alone

this minute with the Angel of Death

beside him, and you cracking jokes!

CLOSEUP HILDY:

typing away furiously, regardless of this. She ends a page.

The sound of Mollie sobbing comes over the scene. Hildy

inserts a fresh page.

MURPHY'S VOICE

If you don't shut up, we'll give you

something to cry about!

Hildy looks o.s. and rises determinedly.

MEDIUM SHOT - MOLLIE BACKING AWAY FROM MURPHY

She is still sobbing. Hildy comes into scene and puts her

arm around Mollie.

HILDY:

(gently)

Come on, Mollie. This is no place

for you.

(she leads Mollie

toward door)

MOLLIE:

They're not human!

HILDY:

They're newspaper men, Mollie. They

can't help themselves. The Lord made

them that way.

MOLLIE:

(one look back as

Hildy leads her out

door)

It wasn't the Lord! It was the devil!

Hildy and Mollie exit. There is a pause. The boys look at

each other uncomfortably. The phone rings. Wilson goes to

answer.

MURPHY:

(picking up cards)

You guys wanna play some more poker?

ENDICOTT:

What's the use? I can't win a pot.

CLOSE SHOT WILSON AT PHONE

WILSON:

(into phone)

Who? Hildy Johnson? She just stepped

out. She'll be back in a second.

Who? Oh, Mr. Baldwin. Well, if you'll

hang on a minute, she ought to be

right in. All right.

(he covers transmitter)

MED. SHOT TAKING DOOR

WILSON:

(to others)

Baldwin. The blushing bridegroom --

himself.

SCHWARTZ:

What's he want?

WILSON:

Wants Hildy -- and sounds very

excited.

Hildy comes back. Looks at them and stares contemptuously.

HILDY:

Gentlemen of the Press! Always picking

on somebody who can't defend himself --

the littler the better.

WILSON:

Phone for you, Hildy.

HILDY:

(going toward it)

Who is it?

WILSON:

Oh, some insurance man. Are you in?

HILDY:

(grabbing phone)

Give me that!

CLOSEUP HILDY:

HILDY:

(into phone)

Hello! Hello! Bruce?... what?...

Where are you?... You're where?...

How did that happen?...

(she listens

unbelievingly a second)

I'll be right over!

MED. SHOT

as Hildy hangs up and darts out of room. The others watch in

amazement.

MURPHY:

Boy, did you see her go?

ENDICOTT:

Lioness Rushes to Defense of Cub.

WILSON:

I told you Baldwin was in trouble.

MCCUE:

Probably went out without his hankie

and wants Mamma to wipe his nose.

SCHWARTZ:

I still give that marriage six months.

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