It's a Wonderful Life Page #7

As he talks, Mary has been listening intently. She finally stoops

down and picks up a rock, weighting it in her hand.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Are you gonna throw a rock?

MEDIUM LONG SHOT �� the old deserted house. Mary throws her rock,

and once more we hear the SOUND of breaking glass.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Hey, that's pretty good. What'd you wish, Mary?

Mary looks at him provocatively, then turns and shuffles off down

the street, singing as she goes. George hurries after her.

MARY (singing)

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

George joins her in the singing as they proceed down the street.

MARY AND GEORGE (singing)

. . . 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:

What'd you wish when you threw that rock?

CLOSE SHOT �� man on the porch of house, listening to George and

Mary.

MEDIUM CLOSEUP �� George and Mary have stopped walking and now

face one another.

MARY:

Oh, no.

GEORGE:

Come on, tell me.

MARY:

If I told you it might not come true.

GEORGE:

What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon?

Just say . . .

LONG SHOT �� full moon shining through the trees.

BACK TO SHOT �� George and Mary.

GEORGE (cont'd)

. . . the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.

Hey, that's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

MARY:

I'll take it. And then what?

GEORGE:

Well, then you could swallow it and it'd all dissolve, see? And

the moonbeams'd shoot out of your fingers and your toes, and the

ends of your hair.

(pauses) Am I talking too much?

MEDIUM CLOSEUP �� Man on porch of house. As George finishes

talking, he jumps up out of his chair:

MAN:

Yes!! Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?

CLOSE SHOT �� George and Mary.

GEORGE:

How's that?

MEDIUM CLOSEUP �� man on porch.

MAN:

Why don't you kiss her instead of talking her to death?

CLOSE SHOT �� George and Mary.

GEORGE:

Want me to kiss her, huh?

CLOSE SHOT �� porch of house.

MAN:

Aw, youth is wasted on the wrong people.

As he speaks, the man leaves the porch and goes into his house,

slamming the front door.

CLOSE SHOT �� George and Mary.

GEORGE:

Hey, hey, hold on. Hey, mister, come on back out here, and I'll

show you some kissing that'll put hair back on your head. What

are you . . .

Mary runs off scene. George has been once more standing on the

belt of her bath robe, so as she goes, her robe comes off.

GEORGE (looking around)

Mary . . .

He drops his bundle of clothes and picks up Mary's robe. He

cannot se her anywhere.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Okay, I give up. Where are you?

CLOSEUP �� bush at edge of sidewalk. We see Mary's face peering

out from the leaves.

MARY:

Over here in the hydrangea bushes.

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT �� George and Mary. George walks toward the

bush.

GEORGE:

Here you are. Catch.

He is about to throw her the robe, when a thought strikes him.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Wait a minute. What am I doing? This is a very interesting

situation.

MARY (from the bushes)

Please give me my robe.

GEORGE:

Hmm . . . A man doesn't get in a situation like this every day.

MARY (impatiently)

I'd like to have my robe.

GEORGE:

Not in Bedford Falls, anyway.

Mary thrashes around in the bushes. We hear her say:

MARY:

Ouch!

GEORGE:

Gesundheit. This requires a little thought here.

MARY (getting mad)

George Bailey! Give me my robe!

GEORGE:

I've heard about things like this, but I've never . . .

MARY (interrupting)

Shame on you. I'm going to tell your mother on you.

GEORGE:

Oh, my mother's way up the corner there.

MARY (desperate)

I'll call the police.

GEORGE:

They're way downtown. They'd be on my side, too.

MARY:

I'm going to scream!

GEORGE (thoughtfully)

Maybe I could sell tickets. Let's see. No, the point is, in order

to get this robe . . . I've got it! I'll make a deal with you,

Mary.

Headlights flash into the scene, and the old Bailey automobile

drives in, with Harry at the wheel, and Uncle Billy beside him.

UNCLE BILLY:

George! George! Come on home, quick! Your father's had a stroke!

George throws Mary's robe over the bush and gets into the car.

GEORGE:

Mary . . . Mary, I'm sorry. I've got to go.

HARRY:

Come on, George, let's hurry.

GEORGE:

Did you get a doctor?

UNCLE BILLY:

Yes, Campbell's there now.

CLOSEUP �� the hydrangea bush. As the car drives off, Mary, now

wearing the robe, rises up from the bush and follows the car with

her eyes.

FADE OUT:

Board of directors meeting

FADE IN:

EXTERIOR BAILEY BUILDING AND LOAN SIGN OVER ENTRANCE

INTERIOR BAILEY BUILDING AND LOAN OFFICE �� DAY

CLOSE SHOT �� Directors Meeting. There are about twelve directors

seated around a long table. They are the substantial citizens of

Bedford Falls

Dr.

Campbell, a lawyer, an insurance agent, a real estate salesman,

etc. Prominently seated among them is Henry F. Potter, his goon

beside his wheelchair.

Uncle Billy and George are seated among the directors. The

Chairman of the Board is Dr. Campbell. They have folders and

papers before them, on which

they have been reporting. Before each of the directors there are

individual reports for them to study.

DR. CAMPBELL

I think that's all we'll need you for, George. I know you're

anxious to make a train.

GEORGE (rising)

I have a taxi waiting downstairs.

DR. CAMPBELL

I want the Board to know that George gave up his trip to Europe

to help straighten things out here these past few months. Good

luck to you at

school, George.

GEORGE:

Thanks.

DR. CAMPBELL

Now we come to the real purpose of this meeting �� to appoint a

successor to our dear friend, Peter Bailey.

POTTER:

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to get to my real purpose.

MAN:

Wait just a minute now.

POTTER:

Wait for what? I claim this institution is not necessary to this

town. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I make a motion to dissolve this

institution and turn its

assets and liabilities over to the receiver.

UNCLE BILLY (angrily)

George, you hear what that buzzard . . .

LAWYER:

Mr. Chairman, it's too soon after Peter Bailey's death to discuss

chloroforming the Building and Loan.

MAN:

Peter Bailey died three months ago. I second Mr. Potter's motion.

DR. CAMPBELL

Very well. In that case I'll ask the two executive officers to

withdraw.

Dr. Campbell rises from his seat. George and Uncle Billy start to

collect their papers and leave the table.

DR. CAMPBELL (continued)

But before you go, I'm sure the whole board wishes to express its

deep sorrow at the passing of Peter Bailey.

GEORGE:

Thank you very much.

DR. CAMPBELL

It was his faith and devotion that are responsible for this

organization.

POTTER:

I'll go further than that. I'll say that to the public Peter

Bailey was the Building and Loan.

Everyone looks at him surprised.

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