His Girl Friday Page #23

They turn. Hildy comes into the scene.

HILDY:

(going to her phone)

It's getting so a girl can't step

out of the room without being

discussed by a bunch of old ladies.

(into phone; her voice

assumes a silken

quality)

Hello, Post... Mr. Walter Burns,

please.

CLOSE SHOT SCHWARTZ

SCHWARTZ:

(embarrassed)

Well, Hildy, we were only saying

that a swell reporter like you

wouldn't give this up so easily.

MED. SHOT FEATURING HILDY

HILDY:

(into phone)

This is Hildy Johnson...

(to Schwartz)

Oh, I can give it up all right.

Without a single quiver. I'm going

to live like a human being -- not

like you rats.

(into phone)

Oh, is that you, Walter dear? Oh, I

didn't mean "dear." That was just

habit, I guess. Oh, be yourself,

Walter. I've got some news for you...

Yes, I got the interview, but I've

got some news that's more important.

The others are listening, suspecting a scoop.

HILDY:

Better get a pencil out and write it

down. All ready?

(then with a sudden

change of pace)

Get this, you double-crossing

chimpanzee, there ain't gonna be any

interview and there ain't gonna be

any story... Huh? That certified

check of yours is leaving with me in

twenty minutes. And if I ever see

you again, it's going to be just too

bad... Eh?... Oh, you don't know

what I'm angry about, do you? If you

come over I'll be very glad to tell

you the story of Louie's watch. I

dare you to come over, you -- you --

skunk in sheep's clothing! And bring

that bodyguard of yours, too -- you'll

need him.

QUICK CUTS OF REACTION FROM OTHERS

CLOSEUP HILDY:

HILDY:

...And I just want you to listen to

one more thing.

She gets her story out of typewriter, applies it to

transmitter and tears it up.

HILDY:

Hear that? That's the interview I

wrote... Yes, I know we made a

bargain. I just said I'd write it --

I didn't say I wouldn't tear it up.

Yes, it's all in little pieces now,

Walter, and I hope to do the same

for you some time!

She hangs up.

MED. SHOT FEATURING HILDY

She reaches under her desk, pulls up bag, talking all the

time. The others are too startled to do anything but listen.

HILDY:

And that's my farewell to the

newspaper game. I'm going to live a

normal life and have a home.

She reaches into the drawer of desk and gets some stuff which

she puts into bag.

HILDY:

I'm going to be a woman, not a

newsgetting machine. I'm going to

have babies and nurse them and love

them and give 'em cod liver oil and

worry about their new teeth -- and

the minute I catch one of them even

looking at a newspaper, I'm going to

brain him! Where's my hat?

Someone points to her hat. She rises and goes toward it. Her

bag is still open. Her phone rings. Schwartz answers it.

SCHWARTZ:

(subdued tones)

Hello, Mr. Burns. Yes, she's still

here.

HILDY:

(stopping midway to

her hat)

I'll take it.

(she comes over to

phone)

What's the matter, Mr. Burns -- don't

you understand English? -- Why, your

language is shocking, Mr. Burns --

positively shocking! I don't mind

because I was married to you and

know what to expect, but suppose

Central is listening in... Oh, did

you hear that, Central? We ought to

report him, don't you think?... Oh,

fooey on you!

She pulls the phone out of the wall, walks toward window and

tosses it out of the window. She waits for the crash, turns

back and says:

HILDY:

Now where was that hat? Oh, yes.

She starts toward it.

INT. SHERIFF HARTMAN'S OFFICE MED. SHOT

WILLIAMS:

I hope you're pretty nearly through

with me, Doctor, I'm getting a little

fatigued.

HARTMAN:

Yeah, you don't want to tire him

out, Doctor.

EGELHOFFER:

Just one thing more. I'd like to

reenact the crime, Mr. Williams. May

I have your gun, please, Sheriff?

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