It's a Wonderful Life Page #5

GEORGE:

I hope it works.

POP:

No gin tonight, son.

HARRY:

Aw, Pop, just a little.

POP:

No, son, not one drop.

CLOSE SHOT �� George and Pop at the table. Annie comes in with

some dishes.

ANNIE:

Boys and girls and music. Why do they need gin?

She exits.

GEORGE:

Father, did I act like that when I graduated from high school?

POP:

Pretty much. You know, George, wish we could send Harry to

college with you. Your mother and I talked it over half the

night.

GEORGE:

We have that all figured out. You see, Harry'll take my job at

the Building and Loan, work there four years, then he'll go.

POP:

He's pretty young for that job.

GEORGE:

Well, no younger than I was.

POP:

Maybe you were born older, George.

GEORGE:

How's that?

POP:

I say, maybe you were born older. I suppose you've decided what

you're going to do when you get out of college.

GEORGE:

Oh, well, you know what I've always talked about �� build things

. . . design new buildings �� plan modern cities �� all that

stuff I was talking about.

POP:

Still after that first million before you're thirty.

GEORGE:

No, I'll settle for half that in cash.

Annie comes in again from the kitchen.

POP:

Of course, it's just a hope, but you wouldn't consider coming

back to the Building and Loan, would you?

Annie stops serving to hear his answer.

GEORGE:

Well, I . . . (to Annie)

Annie, why don't you draw up a chair? Then you'd be more

comfortable and you could hear everything that's going on.

ANNIE:

I would if I thought I'd hear anything worth listening to.

GEORGE:

You would, huh?

She gives George a look, and goes on out into the kitchen. Bailey

smiles and turns to George.

POP:

I know it's soon to talk about it.

GEORGE:

Oh, now, Pop, I couldn't. I couldn't face being cooped up for the

rest of my life in a shabby little office.

He stops, realizing that he has hurt his father.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Oh, I'm sorry, Pop. I didn't mean that remark, but this business

of nickels and dimes and spending all your life trying to figure

out how to save

three cents on a length of pipe . . . I'd go crazy. I want to do

something big and something important.

POP (quietly)

You know, George, I feel that in a small way we are doing

something important. Satisfying a fundamental urge. It's deep in

the race for a man to

want his own roof and walls and fireplace, and we're helping him

get those things in our shabby little office.

GEORGE (unhappily)

I know, Dad. I wish I felt . . . But I've been hoarding pennies

like a miser in order to . . . Most of my friends have already

finished college. I

just feel like if I don't get away, I'd bust.

POP:

Yes . . . Yes . . . You're right, son.

GEORGE:

You see what I mean, don't you, Pop?

POP:

This town is no place for any man unless he's willing to crawl to

Potter. You've got talent, son. You get yourself an education.

Then get out of here.

GEORGE:

Pop, do you want a shock? I think you're a great guy.

To cover his embarrassment, he looks toward the kitchen door and

calls:

GEORGE (cont'd)

Oh, did you hear that, Annie?

CLOSE SHOT �� Annie listening through glass in door.

ANNIE:

I heard it. About time one of you lunkheads said it.

CLOSE SHOT �� George and his father at the table.

GEORGE:

I'm going to miss old Annie. Pop, I think I'll get dressed and go

over to Harry's party.

POP:

Have a good time, son.

WIPE TO:

High school gymnasium dance

INTERIOR HIGH SCHOOL GYM �� NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT �� At one end of the room an orchestra is

playing. George wends his way through the dancing couples toward

a supper table.

He and Harry are carrying plates and pies.

GEORGE:

Here you are.

Several of the boys take the plates from him. George looks at

them, feeling very grown up and out of place.

HARRY (introducing George)

You know my kid brother, George. I'm going to put him through

college.

Sam Wainwright comes in behind Harry, waggles his hands at his

ears as he talks.

SAM:

Here comes George. Hello, hee-haw!

George swings around, delighted to hear a familiar voice.

WIDER ANGLE �� including Sam and Marty Hatch. Sam is assured and

breezy, wearing very collegiate clothes.

GEORGE:

Oh, oh. Sam Wainwright! How are you? When did you get here?

SAM:

Oh, this afternoon. I thought I'd give the kids a treat.

GEORGE:

Old college graduate now, huh?

SAM:

Yeah �� old Joe College Wainwright, they call me. Well, freshman,

looks like you're going to make it after all.

GEORGE:

Yep.

Sam sees Harry and leaves George in the middle of a gesture.

SAM (to Harry)

Harry! You're the guy I want to see. Coach has heard all about

you.

HARRY:

He has?

SAM:

Yeah. He's followed every game and his mouth's watering. He wants

me to find out if you're going to come along with us.

HARRY:

Well, I gotta make some dough first.

SAM:

Well, you better make it fast. We need great ends like you �� not

broken down old guys like this one.

George and Sam wiggle their fingers at their ears, saluting each

other.

GEORGE:

Hee-haw!

SAM:

Hee-haw!

An elderly, fussy school principal comes over to George.

PRINCIPAL:

George, welcome back.

GEORGE:

Hello, Mr. Partridge, how are you?

PRINCIPAL:

Putting a pool under this floor was a great idea. Saved us

another building. Now, Harry, Sam, have a lot of fun. There's

lots of stuff to eat and drink.

Lots of pretty girls around.

Violet Bick comes into the scene and turns to face George. She is

waving her dance program at him.

VIOLET:

Hey, George . . .

GEORGE:

Hello, Violet.

VIOLET:

Hello, what am I bid?

Marty Hatch enters scene.

MARTY:

George.

GEORGE:

Hiya, Marty. Well, it's old home week.

MARTY:

Do me a favor, will you, George?

GEORGE:

What's that?

MARTY:

Well, you remember my kid sister, Mary?

GEORGE:

Oh, yeah, yeah.

SAM:

"Momma wants you, Marty." "Momma wants you, Marty." Remember?

MARTY:

Dance with her, will you?

GEORGE:

Oh . . . me? Oh, well, I feel funny enough already, with all

these kids.

MARTY:

Aw, come on. Be a sport. Just dance with her one time and you'll

give her the thrill of her life.

SAM:

Aw, go on.

MARTY (calling off)

Hey, sis.

GEORGE:

Well, excuse me, Violet. Don't be long, Marty. I don't want to be

a wet nurse for . . .

He stops suddenly as he sees Mary, staring at her.

CLOSEUP �� Mary Hatch. She is standing talking to one of the

boys, Freddie, a glass of punch in her hand. For the first time,

she is wearing an evening

gown and she has gained assurance from the admiration of the boy

with her. She turns around and for the first time she sees

George. For a second she

loses her poise, staring at him.

FREDDIE'S VOICE

And the next thing I know, some guy came up and tripped me.

That's the reason why I came in fourth. If it hadn't been for

that . . .

CLOSE SHOT �� George, staring at Mary.

FREDDIE'S VOICE (cont'd)

. . . that race would have been a cinch. I tried to find out who

it was later . . .

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