It's a Wonderful Life Page #6

CLOSEUP �� Mary, still staring at George, and smiling.

FREDDIE'S VOICE (cont'd)

. . . but I couldn't find out. Nobody'd ever tell you whoever it

was because they'd be scared. They know . . .

MEDIUM CLOSEUP �� Mary and Freddie. Marty comes into scene,

followed by George.

FREDDIE (cont'd)

. . . what kind of . . .

MARTY (interrupting)

You remember George? This is Mary. Well, I'll be seeing you.

GEORGE:

Well . . . Well . . . Well . . .

FREDDIE:

Now, to get back to my story, see . . .

Mary hands her punch cup to Freddie, and she and George start

dancing.

FREDDIE (cont'd)

Hey, this is my dance!

GEORGE:

Oh, why don't you stop annoying people?

FREDDIE:

Well, I'm sorry. Hey!

MOVING SHOT �� following George and Mary as they dance.

GEORGE:

Well, hello.

MARY:

Hello. You look at me as if you didn't know me.

GEORGE:

Well, I don't.

MARY:

You've passed me on the street almost every day.

GEORGE:

Me?

MARY:

Uh-huh.

GEORGE:

Uh-uh. That was a little girl named Mary Hatch. That wasn't you.

A WHISTLE is heard offscreen, and the MUSIC stops.

CLOSE SHOT �� Harry on the orchestra platform, whistle in hand.

HARRY:

Oyez �� oyez �� oyez . . . The big Charleston contest. The prize?

A genuine loving cup. Those not tapped by the judges will remain

on the floor. Let's

go!

CLOSEUP �� George and Mary. As the MUSIC starts and couples begin

dancing once more, they look at each other.

GEORGE:

I'm not very good at this.

MARY:

Neither am I.

GEORGE:

Okay �� what can we lose?

They start their Charleston. We see a SERIES OF SHOTS of various

couples doing their routines, some good, some bad.

CLOSEUP �� Freddie leaning against the railing around the dance

floor, looking daggers at George. Mickey, a young punk who has

had one too many,

is beside him.

MICKEY:

What's the matter, Othello �� jealous? Did you know there's a

swimming pool under this floor? And did you know that button

behind you causes this

floor to open up? And did you further know that George Bailey is

dancing right over that crack? And I've got the key?

Freddie needs no more. He takes the key from Mickey and turns the

switch. The floor begins to part in the middle, each half sliding

under the bleacher

seats. Pandemonium starts. Dancers begin to scream as they try to

get off. Some are so engrossed in dancing they continue at top

speed. Teachers and

elders start to scurry off. As the floor opens, it reveals an

attractive, lighted swimming pool.

George and Mary are so busy dancing they don't notice the floor

opening. Spotlights concentrate on them. They mistake the screams

for cheers.

CLOSE SHOT �� George and Mary dancing.

GEORGE:

They're cheering us. We must be good.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT �� the crowd watching George and Mary dancing.

They move backwards until finally they reach the edge of the

floor and fall

into the pool below.

SERIES OF SHOTS �� George and Mary still trying to dance in the

water �� the crowd on the edge cheering them �� some of the crowd

leap into the

pool �� the principal trying to restore order, finally clasps his

hands like a diver and leaps in himself.

FADE OUT:

George and Mary's moonlight walk

FADE IN:

EXTERIOR TREE-LINED RESIDENTIAL STREET �� NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT �� George and Mary. The night is warm with a

bright moon. George is dressed in jersey sweater and oversize

football pants

that keep wanting to come down. Mary is in an old white bath

robe. Each is carrying their wet clothes tied into a bundle that

leaves a trail of dripping

water. As they near the camera we hear them singing:

GEORGE AND MARY (singing)

Buffalo Gals can't you come out tonight. Can't you come out

tonight. Can't you come out tonight. Buffalo Gals can't you come

out tonight and dance by the light of the moon.

GEORGE:

Hot dog! Just like an organ.

MARY:

Beautiful.

CAMERA MOVES WITH them as they proceed down the street.

GEORGE:

And I told Harry I thought I'd be bored to death. You should have

seen the commotion in that locker room. I had to knock down three

people to get

this stuff we're wearing here. Here, let me hold that old wet

dress of yours.

He takes the bundle of clothes from Mary. They stop and look at

each other.

MARY:

Do I look as funny as you do?

GEORGE:

I guess I'm not quite the football type. You . . . look

wonderful. You know, if it wasn't me talking I'd say you were the

prettiest girl in town.

MARY:

Well, why don't you say it?

GEORGE:

I don't know. Maybe I will say it. How old are you anyway?

MARY:

Eighteen.

GEORGE:

Eighteen? Why, it was only last year you were seventeen.

MARY:

Too young or too old?

GEORGE:

Oh, no. Just right. Your age fits you. Yes, sir, you look a

little older without your clothes on.

Mary stops. George, to cover his embarrassment, talks quickly on:

GEORGE:

I mean, without a dress. You look older . . . I mean, younger.

You look just . . .

In his confusion George steps on the end of the belt of Mary's

bath robe, which is trailing along behind her. She gathers the

robe around her.

GEORGE:

Oh-oh . . .

MARY (holding out her hand)

Sir, my train, please.

GEORGE:

A pox upon me for a clumsy lout.

He picks up the belt and throws it over her arm.

GEORGE:

Your . . . your caboose, my lady.

MARY:

You may kiss my hand.

GEORGE:

Ummmmm . . .

Holding her hand, George moves in closer to Mary.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Hey �� hey, Mary.

Mary turns away from him, singing "Buffalo Gals":

MARY (singing)

As I was lumbering down the street . . .

George looks after her; then picks up a rock from the street.

GEORGE:

Okay, then, I'll throw a rock at the old Granville house.

MARY:

Oh, no, don't. I love that old house.

MEDIUM LONG SHOT �� old house. It is a weather-beaten, old-

fashioned two-storied house that once was no doubt resplendent.

GEORGE:

No. You see, you make a wish and then try and break some glass.

You got to be a pretty good shot nowadays, too.

MEDIUM CLOSEUP �� George and Mary.

MARY:

Oh, no, George, don't. It's full of romance, that old place. I'd

like to live in it.

GEORGE:

In that place?

MARY:

Uh-huh.

GEORGE:

I wouldn't live in it as a ghost. Now watch . . . right on the

second floor there.

MEDIUM LONG SHOT �� old house. George hurls the rock at the

house. We hear the SOUND of a window breaking.

EXTERIOR FRONT PORCH OF HOUSE �� Night

CLOSE SHOT �� We see a grumpy old man in shirt sleeves in a

rocking chair on the porch. He looks up as he hears the breaking

glass.

EXTERIOR STREET �� NIGHT

CLOSEUP �� George and Mary.

MARY:

What'd you wish, George?

GEORGE:

Well, not just one wish. A whole hatful, Mary. I know what I'm

going to do tomorrow and the next day and the next year and the

year after that. I'm

shaking the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I'm

going to see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the

Colosseum. Then I'm coming back here and

go to college and see what they know . . . and then I'm going to

build things. I'm gonna build air fields. I'm gonna build

skyscrapers a hundred stories high. I'm gonna

build bridges a mile long . . .

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