It's a Wonderful Life Page #19

GEORGE:

Say hello to New York for me.

VIOLET:

Yeah �� yeah . . . sure I will.

GEORGE:

Now, let's hear from you . . .

Violet sees the lipstick on George's cheek, and dabs at it with

her handkerchief.

GEORGE (cont'd)

What's the matter? Merry Christmas, Vi.

VIOLET:

Merry Christmas, George.

She exits.

MR. CARTER

Mr. Bailey . . .

GEORGE:

Oh, Mr. Carter, I'm sorry. I'll be right with you.

(to Cousin Tilly)

Uncle Billy in?

COUSIN TILLY:

Yeah, he's in his office.

INTERIOR DOORWAY TO UNCLE BILLY'S OFFICE �� DAY

CLOSE SHOT �� As George opens the door he sees Uncle Billy

frantically looking for the missing envelope. The office is in a

mess, drawers are opened,

and papers scattered on the floor and on the desk.

GEORGE:

Unc . . . What's going on? The bank examiner's here, and I . . .

UNCLE BILLY (in dismay)

He's here?

GEORGE:

Yeah, yeah. He wants the accounts payable . . .

George stops short, suddenly aware of the tragic old eyes looking

up at him.

GEORGE (cont'd)

What's the matter with you?

Uncle Billy gestures nervously for George to come in. He does so

and closes the door.

INTERIOR OUTER OFFICE �� DAY

MEDIUM SHOT �� Cousin Tilly is at her switchboard, and Cousin

Eustace standing beside her. Carter is still waiting in the

doorway to his office.

Suddenly the door opens and George comes striding out. He goes

directly to the safe and starts searching, but doesn't find the

money. Then he goes to the

cash drawer in the counter, and looks through it.

GEORGE:

Eustace . . .

EUSTACE:

Yeah?

GEORGE:

Come here a minute.

Cousin Eustace runs over to George.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Did you see Uncle Billy with any cash last night?

COUSIN EUSTACE:

He had it on his desk counting it before he closed up.

EXTERIOR MAIN STREET BEDFORD FALLS �� DAY

MEDIUM SHOT �� Uncle Billy and George are retracing the former's

steps through the snow, looking everywhere for the missing money.

They pause for

a moment on the sidewalk.

GEORGE:

Now look, did you buy anything?

UNCLE BILLY:

Nothing. Not even a stick of gum.

GEORGE:

All right. All right. Now we'll go over every step you took since

you left the house.

UNCLE BILLY:

This way.

They continue on down the street on their search.

EXTERIOR WINDOW OF POTTER'S OFFICE IN BANK �� DAY

CLOSE SHOT �� Potter is peering through the slats of the Venetian

blind, watching them as they go.

EXTERIOR MAIN STREET BEDFORD FALLS �� DAY

MOVING SHOT �� George and Uncle Billy continue their search.

WIPE TO:

INTERIOR UNCLE BILLY'S LIVING ROOM

CLOSE SHOT �� A shabby, old-fashioned, gas-lit room which has

been turned almost inside out and upside down in an effort to

locate the missing

money. Drawers of an old secretary have been pulled out and are

on the floor. Every conceivable place which might have been used

by Uncle Billy to put

the money has been searched. George, his hair rumpled, is

feverishly pursuing the search. Uncle Billy is seated behind the

desk, his head on his hands.

GEORGE:

And did you put the envelope in your pocket?

UNCLE BILLY:

Yeah . . yeah . . . maybe . . . maybe . . .

GEORGE (shouts)

Maybe �� maybe! I don't want any maybe. Uncle Billy, we've got to

find that money!

UNCLE BILLY (piteously)

I'm no good to you, George. I . . .

GEORGE:

Listen to me. Do you have any secret hiding place here in the

house? Someplace you could have put it? Someplace to hide the

money?

UNCLE BILLY (exhausted)

I've been over the whole house, even in rooms that have been

locked ever since I lost Laura.

Uncle Billy starts sobbing hysterically. George grabs him by the

lapels and shakes him.

GEORGE (harshly)

Listen to me! Listen to me! Think! Think!

UNCLE BILLY (sobbing)

I can't think any more, George. I can't think any more. It hurts

. . .

George jerks him to his feet and shakes him. Uncle Billy stands

before him like a frisked criminal, all his pockets hanging out,

empty. George's eyes and

manner are almost maniacal.

GEORGE (screaming at him)

Where's that money, you stupid, silly old fool? Where's the

money? Do you realize what this means? It means bankruptcy and

scandal, and prison!

He throws Uncle Billy down into his chair, and still shouts at

him:

GEORGE (cont'd)

That's what it means! One of us is going to jail! Well, it's not

going to be me!

George turns and heads for the door, kicking viciously at a waste

basket on the floor as he goes. Uncle Billy remains sobbing at

the table, his head in his

arms.

WIPE TO:

George goes ballistic

INTERIOR GEORGE'S LIVING ROOM �� NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT �� Janie (aged eight) is seated at the piano playing

"Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," which she practices during the

remainder of this

scene. There is a Christmas tree all decorated near the

fireplace. At a large table Mary is busy putting cellophane bows

and decorations on gift packages.

At a small table Pete (aged nine) is seated with pad and pencil

in the throes of composition. On the floor Tommy (aged three) is

playing with a toy

vacuum cleaner. We hear the SOUND of a door open and close. Mary

turns and sees George enter the hall, a slight powdering of snow

on his head and

shoulders.

INTERIOR HALL �� NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT �� As George comes into the house.

MARY:

Hello darling.

CHILDREN:

Hello Daddy, hello daddy.

MARY (indicating tree)

How do you like it?

George sneezes violently.

MARY AND CHILDREN

Bless you!

MARY:

Did you bring the wreath?

PETE:

Did you bring the Christmas wreath?

GEORGE:

What? What wreath?

MARY:

The Merry Christmas wreath for the window.

GEORGE (gruffly)

No. I left it at the office.

MARY:

Is it snowing?

GEORGE:

Yeah, just started.

MARY:

Where's your coat and hat?

GEORGE:

Left them at the office.

Mary stares at him, aware that something unusual has happened.

MARY:

What's the matter?

GEORGE (bitterly)

Nothing's the matter. Everything's all right.

INTERIOR LIVING ROOM �� NIGHT

CLOSE SHOT �� George slumps into an armchair and lifts Tommy onto

his lap. Mary is helping Pete decorate the Christmas tree.

MARY:

Go on, Pete, you're a big boy. you can put the star up. Way up at

the top. That's it. Fill in that little bare spot right there.

That's it.

(to George)

Isn't it wonderful about Harry? We're famous, George. I'll bet I

had fifty calls today about the parade, the banquet. Your

mother's so excited, she . . .

During this scene, George has been sitting in the chair, hugging

Tommy to him, and crying quietly. Mary realizes that something is

seriously wrong, and

breaks off. Janie is thumping away at the piano.

GEORGE:

Must she keep playing that?

JANIE (hurt)

I have to practice for the party tonight, Daddy.

PETE:

Mommy says we can stay up till midnight and sing Christmas

carols.

TOMMY:

Can you sing, Daddy?

MARY (to George)

Better hurry and shave. The families will be here soon.

Rate this script:4.7 / 3 votes