Meet John Doe Page #13

As he finishes saying this,

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. D. B.'S ESTATE

CLOSE-UP:
Of D. B. NORTON. Camera pulls back and we find

him on horseback.

REVERSE LONG SHOT: We discover that he is watching the

maneuvers of a motorcycle corps who are in uniform. They

are being drilled by TED SHELDON.

MED. SHOT:
As a groom rides toward D. B.

GROOM:

Mr. Connell and Miss Mitchell are

at the house, sir.

D. B.

Oh, they are? All right, come on.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. D. B. 'S STUDY

MED. SHOT—PANNING: As ANN, D. B. and CONNELL enter and

cross to D. B. 's desk.

ANN:

(as they walk)

Personally, I think it's just plain

stupidity to drop it now.

They reach D. B. 's desk and stop.

ANN:

You should see his fan mail!

Thousands! Why, it's going over

like a house afire!

CLOSE-UP:
Of D. B. He studies her a moment before he turns

to CONNELL.

D. B.

What are you afraid of, Connell?

It's doubled our circulation.

WIDER SHOT:
To include all three.

CONNELL:

Yeah, but it's got everybody sore.

Ads are being pulled—the Governor's

starting a libel suit—what's more,

they all know John Doe's a

phoney—and they insist on seeing

him.

ANN:

Well, what about it? Let them see

him! We'll go them one better.

They can also hear him.

(to D. B.)

You own a radio station, Mr. Norton.

Why not put him on the air?

CLOSE-UP:
Of D. B. He admires her fight.

CONNELL'S VOICE

Watch out for this dame, D. B.

She'll drive you batty!

ANN:

Ohh!

WIDER SHOT:
To include all three.

CONNELL:

Look. We can't let 'em get to this

bush-league pitcher and start

pumping him. Good night! No telling

what that screwball might do. I

walked in yesterday—here he is,

standing on a table with a fishing

pole flycasting. Take my advice

and get him out of town before

this thing explodes in our faces!

ANN:

If you do, Mr. Norton, you're just

as much of a dumb cluck as he is!

Excuse me.

CONNELL:

(to Ann—hotly)

No, you've got yourself a meal

ticket and you hate to let go.

ANN:

Sure, it's a meal ticket for me. I

admit it, but it's also a windfall

for somebody like Mr. Norton who's

trying to crash national politics.

(she turns to D. B.)

That's what you bought the newspaper

for, isn't it? You wanta reach a

lotta people, don't you? Well,

put John Doe on the air and you

can reach a hundred and fifty

million of 'em. He can say anything

he wants and they'll listen to

him.

CLOSE-UP:
Of D. B. Fascinated by ANN.

WIDER SHOT:
CONNELL stares at her derisively. D. B. is

completely absorbed.

ANN:

All right, let's not forget the

Governor, the Mayor and all small

fry like that. This can arouse

national interest! If he made a

hit around here—he can do it

everywhere else in the country!

And you'll be pulling the strings,

Mr. Norton!

CLOSE-UP:
Of D. B. His eyes have begun to light up with

extensive plans.

WIDER SHOT:
D. B. continues to study ANN with deep interest.

Then he turns to CONNELL.

D. B.

Go down to the office and arrange

for some radio time.

CONNELL:

(protesting)

Why, D. B., you're not going to

fall for—

D. B.

(interrupting sharply)

I want it as soon as possible.

CONNELL:

(shrugging)

Okay. I just came in to get warm,

myself. Come on, let's go.

He starts out. ANN picks up her bag, prepared to follow

CONNELL.

D. B.

Er, don't you go. I want to talk

to you.

CONNELL goes. ANN waits, somewhat nervously.

D. B.

(when CONNELL is

gone)

Sit down.

MED. TWO SHOT:
ANN and D. B. D. B. studies her for a moment.

D. B.

. . . Er, this John Doe idea is

yours, huh?

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