His Girl Friday Page #49

DEPUTY:

He's coming over.

BURNS:

(to Mrs. Baldwin)

Now, Madam -- be honest. If you were

out joy-riding, drunk, and got into

some scrape, why don't you admit it,

instead of accusing innocent people?

MRS. BALDWIN

(beginning to doubt

her senses)

You ruffian! How dare you say a thing

like that?

HILDA:

Please, Mother, he's just crazy!

MRS. BALDWIN

(to Sheriff)

I'll tell you something more. I'll

tell you why they did it!

BURNS:

(fidgeting)

Come on, Sheriff. We've got to get

bail.

MRS. BALDWIN

(continuing crescendo)

I was in here -- and they had some

kind of murderer in with them. They

were hiding him!

This is a bombshell. The room is electrified.

HARTMAN:

Hiding him? In here?

Murphy, followed by the reporters, comes into scene.

MURPHY:

Hiding him where?

HILDY:

Mother!

REPORTERS:

Where was he?... Where'd they have

him?... Etc.

CLOSE SHOT BURNS

at the desk.

BURNS:

(with superb

indignation)

Madam, you're a cockeyed liar! And

you know it!

To emphasize his righteousness, he pounds on the desk three

times, forgetting that that is his signal to Williams. Then,

realizing what he has done, he gasps.

MED. SHOT

Burns advances from desk, the others retreating before him.

BURNS:

(anxiously)

Come on, Sheriff, we've got to get

bail.

Three answering knocks come from the desk.

GROUP SHOT WITH DOORWAY IN B.G

They jump around to face the desk.

HARTMAN:

(whispering)

What was that?

REPORTERS AD LIB

He's in the desk! -- For the love of --

He's in there! Etc.

HARTMAN:

Aha! I thought so! Stand back,

everybody!

DEPUTY:

Look out, Sheriff. He may shoot!

HARTMAN:

Get your guns out!

The policemen and deputies get out their guns.

HILDY:

He's harmless.

HARTMAN:

Don't take any chances. Shoot through

the desk.

HILDY:

He can't hurt anybody. You've got

his gun.

MRS. BALDWIN

(panic-stricken)

Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

BURNS:

You grey-haired old Judas!

MRS. BALDWIN

Let me out! Let me out of here!

She streaks for the door, flings it open and goes. The

reporters tear out of scene to their telephones.

HARTMAN:

(to policeman)

You stand there!

MURPHY'S VOICE

City Desk! Quick!

SCHWARTZ' VOICE

Gimme the Desk!

HARTMAN:

(to another policeman)

You there!

ENDICOTT'S VOICE

City Desk! Hurry!

MCCUE'S VOICE

Gimme Emil...

HARTMAN:

(to a Deputy, pointing

with his gun toward

the window)

You cover the window.

MURPHY'S VOICE

Look out where you're pointing that

gun!

The Sheriff draws his men in around the desk, their guns

drawn on it.

WILSON'S VOICE

Lemme have the Desk! Quick!

MURPHY'S VOICE

Hold the wire! I've got a flash for

you!

BURNS:

(to Hildy)

Call Duffy!

HARTMAN:

No, you don't!

BURNS:

(to Sheriff, furiously)

Do you want to get us scooped?

MCCUE'S VOICE

Emil? Hang on for a second.

HARTMAN:

Now then, everybody aim at the center.

And when I say three --

HILDY:

That's murder!

HARTMAN:

(changing his mind)

All right! Carl! Frank! One of you

get on each side of the desk. Take

hold of the cover.

They do.

HARTMAN:

Now then! We got you covered,

Williams. Don't try to move. Now!

Everybody quiet and ready for an

emergency. I'm going to count three.

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