His Girl Friday Page #7

Hildy, a little out of breath, catches up with him. At the

iron gate that opens into anteroom Hildy jumps ahead, opens

the gate and holds it for Burns.

HILDY:

Allow me.

BURNS:

(walking right through)

Thanks.

Hildy follows him out.

INT. ANTEROOM MED. SHOT

as Hildy follows Burns in. Bruce is sitting on the bench. On

the end of a bench sits an old, grizzled Western Union "boy".

Ignoring Bruce, Burns strides over to the "boy", seizes his

hand, shakes it and says:

BURNS:

I can see right away my wife picked

out the right husband for herself.

CLOSE SHOT BRUCE

Hildy behind him. Bruce registers amazement at this.

CLOSE SHOT BURNS AND MESSENGER

The messenger is more amazed than Bruce as Burns keeps pumping

his hand vigorously.

MESSENGER:

There must be some mistake. I'm

already married.

BURNS:

(you never saw a more

surprised man)

Already married!

(turning to Hildy

o.s.)

Hildy, why didn't you tell me?

CLOSEUP HILDY:

She shakes her head at Burns' antics, but can't help smiling

nevertheless.

MEDIUM SHOT BURNS AND MESSENGER

BURNS:

(again seizing

messenger's hand)

Congratulations again, Mr. Baldwin!

MESSENGER:

But my name --

BRUCE:

(as he enters scene)

Mr. Burns!

Burns turns slightly but doesn't release messenger's hand.

BURNS:

Yeah? You'll have to excuse me --

I'm busy with Mr. Bruce Baldwin here.

Just leave your card with the boy.

CLOSE SHOT BRUCE AND BURNS

Bruce takes hold of Burns' coat and shakes it to get his

attention. Burns turns on him:

BURNS:

I'm very sorry, but I'm busy! Look --

(he points o.s.)

-- there's the boy. Take your card

and leave it with him.

He turns away again. Bruce, determinedly, takes hold of his

sleeve and pulls at it.

BRUCE:

Mr. Burns --

BURNS:

(wheeling around)

I've just told you I was busy with

Mr. Bruce Baldwin!

BRUCE:

I'm Bruce Baldwin!

MEDIUM SHOT:

Burns, still pumping the dazed messenger's hand, stops at

this, drops hand, and turns to Bruce:

BURNS:

You're Bruce Baldwin?

BRUCE:

Yes!

BURNS:

(accusing to messenger)

Then who are you?

MESSENGER:

(falteringly)

My name's Pete Davis.

BURNS:

Pete Davis! Well, Mr. Davis, this is

no concern of yours and after this

I'll thank you to keep out of my

affairs!

The messenger isn't quite sure what he's done but he slinks

back to his seat as Burns turns to Bruce.

CLOSEUP HILDY:

She is beginning to get sore, but reluctantly again she is

compelled to smile at Walter's behavior.

CLOSE SHOT BURNS AND BRUCE

BURNS:

(reaches for Bruce's

hand but grabs the

umbrella and begins

shaking the handle

up and down)

This is a pleasure, Mr. Baldwin, and

I'm sorry about the mistake.

BRUCE:

(he tries to shift

the umbrella, calling

Burns' attention to

it, and offers his

hand instead)

BURNS:

Oh, I thought there was something

funny... You see, Bruce, you don't

mind if I call you Bruce, do you?

After all, we're practically related --

BRUCE:

(completely unnerved

by this time, and

you can't quite blame

him)

Mr. -- well -- no -- no -- not at

all.

BURNS:

You see, my wife -- I mean, your

wife -- that is, I mean Hildy -- had

led me to expect that she was marrying

a much older man.

BRUCE:

(this is the final

crusher)

Oh.

BURNS:

But I see, she didn't mean old in

years. You always carry an umbrella,

Bruce?

BRUCE:

Well, er -- it looked a little cloudy

this morning.

BURNS:

That's right. -- Rubbers, too, I

hope? A man ought to be prepared for

any emergency.

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