His Girl Friday Page #26

HARTMAN:

A fine fair-weather friend you are!

MURPHY:

(remorselessly, into

phone)

The names are Merwyn D. Mayor, who

is the Mayor's brother-in-law --

HARTMAN:

After all I've done for you --

MURPHY:

(continuing)

Howard Shenken, the Sheriff's uncle

on his mother's side --

WILSON:

(into phone)

Hello, Jim? Sidelights on Sheriff

Hartman's manhunt.

The Sheriff spins around -- another enemy. At this moment

Hildy enters the room and crosses casually to her telephone

where she stands waiting.

MURPHY:

(into phone)

William Lungren, who is the Sheriff's

landlord, and Lester Bartow who

married the Sheriff's niece. You

remember, the very homely dame. Call

you back.

He hangs up.

WILSON:

(into phone)

Mrs. William Tausig, age fifty-five,

scrub lady, while at work scrubbing

the eighth floor of the Commerce

Building, was shot in the left leg

by one of Sheriff Hartman's deputies.

Hartman groans. There is a sound of machine-gun firing in

the courtyard.

HILDY:

There goes another scrub lady.

WILSON:

(into phone)

I'll go right after it.

He hangs up and exits.

MURPHY:

(to Hildy)

Any dope yet on how he got out?

HILDY:

From all I can get the Sheriff let

him out so's he could vote for him.

HARTMAN:

I'm very disappointed in you, Hildy

Johnson.

He turns and exits.

CLOSE SHOT AT TABLE NEAR HILDY'S PHONE

taking in Hildy and Murphy.

MURPHY:

How do you suppose Williams got that

gun?

As Hildy shrugs, there is another flurry of machine-gun fire.

Murphy leaves precipitately. Hildy, alone at last, picks up

the phone.

HILDY:

(into phone)

Give me Walter Burns -- quick --

She lays down the telephone receiver and crosses to the door

which she closes, then returns to the phone.

HILDY:

(picking up phone)

Walter, listen. I've got the inside

story on how Williams got the gun

and escaped.

INT. WALTER BURNS' OFFICE - DAY CLOSE SHOT - BURNS

at his desk, telephone to his ear.

BURNS:

Exclusive? That's great.

INT. PRESS ROOM - DAY CLOSE SHOT - HILDY

HILDY:

It cost me four hundred and fifty

bucks to tear it out of Cooley.

INT. BURNS' OFFICE CLOSE SHOT - BURNS

BURNS:

Never mind that. What's the story?

INT. PRESS ROOM CLOSE SHOT - HILDY

HILDY:

Never mind it? That's not my money!

That's Bruce's money!

INT. BURNS' OFFICE CLOSE SHOT - BURNS

BURNS:

You'll get it. Now what's the story?

(he raises his hand)

I'll have the paper send the money

right down to you. I swear it on my

mother's grave.

INT. PRESS ROOM CLOSE SHOT - HILDY

HILDY:

Wait a minute. Your mother's alive.

INT. BURNS' OFFICE CLOSE SHOT - BURNS

BURNS:

I meant on my grandmother's grave.

Don't be so technical, Hildy. What's

the story?!

INT. PRESS ROOM CLOSE SHOT - HILDY

HILDY:

Well, this expert Dr. Egelhoffer,

from New York, decides to make

Williams re-enact the crime --

She starts to giggle at the thought.

HILDY:

Well, I'm coming to it. It seems the

Professor had to have a gun to re-

enact the crime with -- and who do

you suppose supplied it? Nobody else

but that great thinker, Sheriff

Hartman!

INT. BURNS' OFFICE CLOSE SHOT - BURNS

BURNS:

(laughing)

No kidding, Hildy.

(suspiciously)

Say, this isn't a rib?

INT. PRESS ROOM CLOSE SHOT - HILDY

HILDY:

No, this is on the level, Walter.

I'm not good enough to make this one

up. The Sheriff gave his gun to the

Professor, the Professor gave it to

Earl, and Earl gave it right back to

the Professor -- right in the stomach!

Who? No, Egelhoffer wasn't hurt badly.

They took him to the County Hospital

where they're afraid he'll recover.

INT. BURNS' OFFICE CLOSE SHOT - BURNS

BURNS:

That's great work, Hildy... Huh? Oh,

will you stop worrying about the

money? I'll see you get it in fifteen

minutes.

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