His Girl Friday Page #36

ENDICOTT:

Better let us in on it, Mollie.

HILDY:

Aw, why don't you let her alone?

She's ill!

MURPHY:

Oh, you two are pals now -- I think

you're right, Endicott. Mollie did

give her some kind of story.

ENDICOTT:

I tell you, it's a screwy set-up. We

better hold onto 'em both.

At this point Mrs. Baldwin appears in the doorway. Hildy

gasps and starts for her.

MED. SHOT AT DOOR

Mrs. Baldwin is in a very righteous mood.

MRS. BALDWIN

Well?

CLOSE SHOT HILDY

as she comes in to her.

HILDY:

Mother!

MRS. BALDWIN

Don't you mother me! Playing cat-and-

mouse with my poor boy! Keeping him

looked up -- making us miss two trains --

and supposed to be married tomorrow!

HILDY:

Mother, I can explain everything.

I'll go with you in five minutes and --

MRS. BALDWIN

You don't have to go with me at all!

Just give me my son's money and you

can stay here forever as far as I'm

concerned. Stay with that murderer

you caught!

CLOSE SHOT REPORTERS

as they get this. Reactions as they glance at one another.

MRS. BALDWIN'S VOICE

(continuing)

Which one of these men is it? They

all look like murderers to me!

MURPHY:

Where does she get that stuff?

SCHWARTZ:

Shall we tell her what she looks

like?

ENDICOTT:

Wait a minute! What murderer did you

catch, Hildy?

MED. SHOT GROUP

The reporters are looking intently at Hildy and Mrs. Baldwin.

HILDY:

I don't know what she's talking about.

I never said any such thing.

MRS. BALDWIN

I'm quoting my son, and he has never

lied to me.

The reporters move toward Hildy and Mrs. Baldwin speaking

simultaneously.

REPORTERS:

I knew something stunk around here --

Who says she caught him --? What do

you mean she caught a murderer --?

etc.

HILDY:

(desperately)

But I never said anything like that!

MRS. BALDWIN

Yes, you did!

CLOSEUP MOLLIE:

MOLLIE:

She never told her that!

MED. CLOSE SHOT GROUP

HILDY:

I said I was trying to catch one.

(to Mrs. Baldwin)

You got it balled up, Mother.

CLOSE SHOT:

taking in Mollie, with Murphy coming into scene to her.

MURPHY:

What do you know about it? How do

you know she didn't?

He grabs her cruelly by an arm.

MOLLIE:

Let go!

Endicott comes into scene.

ENDICOTT:

Hold on to her, Jimmy -- she's in

with Hildy on this.

CLOSE SHOT HILDY AND MRS. BALDWIN

Hildy tense with anxiety, her eyes on Mollie, off. Murphy

comes viciously into scene to her and jerks Hildy by an arm.

MURPHY:

Who you holding out on? Come clean,

or we'll make you wish you had --

MED. SHOT

as the rest of the reporters surround Hildy menacingly.

ENDICOTT:

(to Hildy)

Hildy, are you gonna cross us for

Walter Burns after the way you told

him off?

WILSON:

Give in, Hildy -- you can't get away

with it.

CLOSEUP MOLLIE:

AS SHE CRIES WILDLY:

MOLLIE:

Wait! You stool-pigeons! She don't

know where Williams is. I'm the one

that knows.

SHOT OF REPORTERS

as they turn on Mollie.

ENDICOTT:

What do you mean, you know?

They start for Mollie.

MED. SHOT

Mollie begins backing slowly around the table, away from

them, toward the window.

MOLLIE:

Go find out, you heels! You don't

think I'm gonna tell!

CLOSEUP HILDY:

who has remained riveted at desk.

HILDY:

Let her alone! She's goofy!

MOLLIE AND REPORTERS

Hemmed in by the massed reporters, she makes a sudden lunge

for the door.

REPORTERS:

Look out! Close that door! etc.,

etc.

They split, some of them heading her off at door, others

from opposite side of table, so that she runs back between

window and table.

MCCUE:

You ain't gettin' out o' here!

ENDICOTT:

Now, where is he?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes