It's a Wonderful Life Page #9

GEORGE:

Oh, there are plenty of jobs around for somebody that likes to

travel. Look at this.

(takes some folders from his pocket)

There . . . Venezuela oil fields �� wanted, man with construction

experience. Here's the Yukon, right here �� wanted, man with

engineering experience.

The WHISTLE of the approaching train is heard.

GEORGE (cont'd)

Thar she blows. You know what the three most exciting sounds in

the world are?

UNCLE BILLY:

Uh-huh. Breakfast is served; lunch is served; dinner . . .

GEORGE:

No, no, no, no! Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles.

UNCLE BILLY:

Peanut?

WIPE TO:

EXTERIOR TRAIN �� DAY

MEDIUM SHOT �� The train comes to a stop, and Harry is among the

first to get off, followed by an attractive girl about the same

age as he is. George

rushes into the shot, and as the brothers embrace:

GEORGE (joyously)

There's the professor now! Old professor, Phi Beta Kappa Bailey!

All American!

HARRY:

Well, if it isn't old George Geographic Explorer Bailey! What? No

husky dogs? No sled?

(to Uncle Billy)

Uncle Billy, you haven't changed a bit.

UNCLE BILLY:

Nobody ever changes around here. You know that.

GEORGE:

Oh, am I glad to see you.

HARRY:

Say, where's Mother?

GEORGE:

She's home cooking the fatted calf. Come on, let's go.

HARRY:

Oh, wait. Wait . . . Wait a minute.

CLOSE SHOT �� the group, including Ruth Dakin. This is the young

lady who came off the train with Harry. In the excitement of

greetings she has been

momentarily forgotten. She stands, smiling, waiting.

GEORGE:

Hello.

UNCLE BILLY:

How do you do.

HARRY:

Ruth Dakin.

RUTH:

Ruth Dakin Bailey, if you don't mind.

George and Uncle Billy stare, astounded.

UNCLE BILLY:

Huh?

HARRY:

Well, I wired you I had a surprise. Here she is. Meet the wife.

George is thunderstruck. He takes Ruth's hand.

UNCLE BILLY:

Well, what do you know �� wife.

GEORGE:

Well, how do you do. Congratulations. Congratulations. What am I

doing?

He kisses Ruth. CAMERA MOVES WITH them down the platform.

GEORGE:

Harry, why didn't you tell somebody?

(to Ruth)

What's a pretty girl like you doing marrying this two-headed

brother of mine?

RUTH (smiling)

Well, I'll tell you. It's purely mercenary. My father offered him

a job.

George stops, with a sinking feeling. Uncle Billy and Ruth

continue out of shot. Harry stops with George.

UNCLE BILLY (as he moves off)

Oh, he gets you and a job? Well, Harry's cup runneth over.

HARRY:

George . . . about that job. Ruth spoke out of turn. I never said

I'd take it. You've been holding the bag here for four years, and

. . . well, I won't let you

down, George. I would like to . . . Oh, wait a minute. I forgot

the bags. I'll be right back.

He runs out of the shot, George watching him.

CLOSE SHOT �� George slowly moves after Uncle Billy and Ruth. He

is thinking deeply.

UNCLE BILLY'S VOICE

It was a surprise to me. This is the new Mrs. Bailey, my nephew's

wife. Old, old friend of the family.

RUTH'S VOICE

Oh, of course. I've heard him speak of you.

UNCLE BILLY'S VOICE

And I want to tell you, we're going to give the biggest party

this town ever saw.

CAMERA MOVES WITH George as he comes into the scene. Ruth

detaches herself from the group and offers George some popcorn.

RUTH (to George)

Here, have some popcorn. George, George, George . . . that's all

Harry ever talks about.

GEORGE (quietly)

Ruth, this . . . what about this job?

RUTH:

Oh, well, my father owns a glass factory in Buffalo. He wants to

get Harry started in the research business.

GEORGE:

Is it a good job?

RUTH:

Oh, yes, very. Not much money, but a good future, you know.

Harry's a genius at research. My father fell in love with him.

GEORGE:

And you did, too?

Ruth nods, smiling.

WIPE TO:

After Harry's wedding celebration/George and Violet

EXTERIOR FRONT PORCH �� BAILEY HOME �� NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT �� Cousin Eustace is taking a photograph of the

family group assembled on the porch. Flash bulbs go off, and the

group breaks

up. The crowd enters the front door of the house, leaving George

and Uncle Billy on the porch.

CLOSE SHOT �� George and Uncle Billy. The latter is tipsy. He

feels very high.

UNCLE BILLY:

Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy. I feel so good I could spit in Potter's

eye. I think I will. What did you say, huh? Oh, maybe I'd better

go home.

He looks around for his hat, which is on his head.

UNCLE BILLY (cont'd)

Where's my hat? Where's my . . .

George takes the hat from Uncle Billy's head and hands it to him.

UNCLE BILLY (cont'd)

Oh, thank you, George. Which one is mine?

GEORGE (laughing)

The middle one.

UNCLE BILLY:

Oh, thank you, George, old boy, old boy. Now, look �� if you'll

point me in the right direction . . . would you do that? George?

GEORGE:

Right down here.

They descend the porch steps, and George turns his uncle around

and heads him down the street.

UNCLE BILLY:

Old Building and Loan pal, huh . . .

GEORGE:

Now you just turn this way and go right straight down.

UNCLE BILLY:

That way, huh?

He staggers out of the scene, and as George turns away, we hear

Uncle Billy singing "My Wild Irish Rose." There is a CRASH of

cans and bottles, then:

UNCLE BILLY'S VOICE

I'm all right. I'm all right. " . . . the sweetest flower that

grows . . . "

EXTERIOR HOUSE �� NIGHT

MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT �� George is standing at the garden gate. He

takes some travel folders from his pocket, looks at them and

throws them away.

He is obviously disturbed about the latest turn of events. His

mother comes out of the house and kisses him.

GEORGE:

Hello, Mom.

MRS. BAILEY (as she kisses him)

That's for nothing. How do you like her?

She nods toward the house, where Harry and Ruth, among a crowd of

other couples, are dancing to the MUSIC of a phonograph, and can

be seen

through the front door.

GEORGE:

She's swell.

MRS. BAILEY

Looks like she can keep Harry on his toes.

GEORGE:

Keep him out of Bedford Falls, anyway.

MRS. BAILEY

Did you know that Mary Hatch is back from school?

GEORGE:

Uh-huh.

MRS. BAILEY

Came back three days ago.

GEORGE:

Hmmmm . . .

MRS. BAILEY

Nice girl, Mary.

GEORGE:

Hmmmm . . .

MRS. BAILEY

Kind that will help you find the answers, George.

GEORGE:

Hmmm . . .

MRS. BAILEY

Oh, stop that grunting.

GEORGE:

Hmmm . . .

MRS. BAILEY

Can you give me one good reason why you shouldn't call on Mary?

GEORGE:

Sure �� Sam Wainwright.

MRS. BAILEY

Hmmm?

GEORGE:

Yes. Sam's crazy about Mary.

MRS. BAILEY

Well, she's not crazy about him.

GEORGE:

Well, how do you know? Did she discuss it with you?

MRS. BAILEY

No.

GEORGE:

Well then, how do you know?

MRS. BAILEY

Well, I've got eyes, haven't I? Why, she lights up like a firefly

whenever you're around.

GEORGE:

Oh . . .

MRS. BAILEY

And besides, Sam Wainwright's away in New York, and you're here

in Bedford Falls.

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