His Girl Friday Page #29

HARTMAN:

(with dignity)

If you're talking about my brother-

in-law, he's worked for the city

fifteen years.

They come to the door of the Sheriff's office. Hartman opens

door and the Mayor enters, Hartman following.

INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE MED. CLOSE SHOT

Hartman closes door and turns to Mayor, who faces him

portentously.

MAYOR:

Pete, you're through!

HARTMAN:

(stunned)

What do you mean -- through?

MAYOR:

I mean I'm scratching your name off

the ticket Tuesday and running

Czernecki in your place. It's nothing

personal. And, Pete -- it's the only

way out. It's a sacrifice we all

ought to be glad to make.

HARTMAN:

(David to Jonathan)

Fred!

MAYOR:

Now, Pete! Please don't appeal to my

Sentimental side.

HARTMAN:

Fred, I don't know what to say. A

thing like this almost destroys a

man's faith in human nature.

MAYOR:

I wish you wouldn't talk like that,

Pete.

HARTMAN:

Our families, Fred. I've always looked

on Bessie as my own sister.

MAYOR:

(wavering and desperate)

If there was any way out...

As a phone rings:

HARTMAN:

There is a way out. I've got Williams

surrounded, haven't I? What more do

you want?

(into phone)

Hello... Yes... Hello!

(wildly)

Four hundred suppers! Nothing doing!

This is a man-hunt -- not a

banquet!... The twelve dollars

includes everything!!

He hangs up.

HARTMAN:

That gives you an idea of what I'm

up against!

MAYOR:

(hotly)

We're up against a lot more than

that with that nutty slogan you

invented:
'Reform the Reds With a

Rope'.

Sheriff winces.

MAYOR:

Williams ain't a Red, and you know

it!

HARTMAN:

Well, there's a lot of Communistic

sympathizers around --

MAYOR:

I know it! But they've got nothing

to do with this case! Do you realize

there are two hundred thousand votes

at stake and unless we hang Earl

Williams we're going to lose 'em?

HARTMAN:

But we're going to hang him, Fred.

He can't get away.

A knock on the door.

MAYOR:

What do you mean he can't get away?!

He got away, didn't he?

Knocking louder.

MAYOR:

Who's out there?

VOICE OUTSIDE (PINKUS)

Is Sheriff Hartman in there?

Sheriff starts for door.

HARTMAN:

(relieved)

Ah! For me!

MED. SHOT TAKING IN DOOR

Sheriff opens the door. A small, very colorless and

ineffectual man named Pinkus is there.

HARTMAN:

(as he opens door,

disclosing Pinkus)

I'm Sheriff Hartman. You want me?

PINKUS:

(coming in)

You're certainly a hard fellow to

find, Sheriff.

MAYOR:

(annoyed)

What do you want?

PINKUS:

(taking a document

from his pocket and

proffering it to

Sheriff)

I'm a messenger at the State House.

This is from the Governor.

MAYOR:

What's from the Governor?

PINKUS:

The reprieve for Earl Williams.

HARTMAN:

(stunned)

For who?

PINKUS:

(amiably)

Earl Williams. The reprieve.

MAYOR:

W-wait a minute.

Getting his bearings.

HARTMAN:

(bursting forth)

The Governor gave me his word of

honor he wouldn't interfere. Two

days ago!

MAYOR:

And you fell for it, Pete. It

frightens me what I'd like to do to

you.

(to Pinkus)

Who else knows about this?

The Sheriff, with shaking hands, opens and begins to read

the thing.

PINKUS:

They were all standing around when

he wrote it. It was after they got

back from fishing.

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