Meet John Doe Page #14

ANN:

Yes, sir.

D. B.

How much money do you get?

ANN:

Thirty dollars.

D. B.

(probingly)

Thirty dollars? Well, er, what are

you after? I mean, what do you

want? A journalistic career?

ANN:

Money.

D. B.

(laughs)

Money? Well, I'm glad to hear

somebody admit it. Do you suppose

you could write a radio speech

that would put that fellow over?

ANN:

Oh, I'm sure I can.

D. B.

Do it, and I'll give you a hundred

dollars a week.

ANN:

A hundred dollars!

D. B.

That's only the beginning. You

play your cards right and you'll

never have to worry about money

again. Oh, I knew it.

ANN'S eyes brighten with excitement. They are interrupted

by the arrival of TED SHELDON, in uniform.

D. B.

(to TED)

Hello. Whenever there's a pretty

woman around, er—

(laughing)

This is my nephew, Ted Sheldon,

Miss Mitchell.

ANN:

How do you do.

TED:

How do you do!

D. B.

All right, Casanova. I'll give you

a break. See that Miss Mitchell

gets a car to take her home.

TED:

Always reading my mind, aren't

you?

ANN:

(laughing)

Thank you very much for everything.

D. B.

And, Miss Mitchell—I think from

now on you'd better work directly

with me.

ANN:

Yes, sir.

They exit. D. B. walks to the door, a pleased expression

on his face.

CLOSE-UP:
Of D. B. His face wreathed in a victorious smile.

FADE-OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. ANNE'S LIVING ROOM

CLOSE SHOT:
Of ANN. She sits at a typewriter reading

something she has written. Suddenly, impulsively, she yanks

the sheet out of the machine and flings it to the floor.

As she rises, camera pulls back. We find the floor littered

with previously unsuccessful attempts to get the speech

written. For a moment, ANN paces agitatedly, until she is

interrupted by a commotion.

MED. SHOT:
At door. ANN's two sisters, IRENE and ELLEN,

aged nine and eleven—and dressed in their sleeping pajamas,

dash in, squealing mischievously. Camera pans with them as

they rush to ANN and leap on her.

ANN:

Oh! Hey! Oh, hey! I thought you

were asleep!

ELLEN:

We just wanted to say good night,

Sis.

They embrace and kiss her.

ANN:

Oh, oh! Oh, you little brats! You're

just stalling. I said good night!

MED. SHOT:
At door. ANN'S MOTHER appears in the doorway.

She is a prim little woman—her clothes have a touch of the

Victorian about them—her hair is done up in old-fashioned

style, her throat is modestly covered in lace.

MOTHER:

(above the din)

Come, come, come, children. It's

past your bedtime.

ELLEN:

Oh, all right.

MOTHER:

Go on!

ELLEN:

Come on, Pooch! Come on, come on.

MOTHER:

Now, keep Pooch off the bed.

The CHILDREN exit, squealing. ANN'S MOTHER goes to ANN's

desk and searches for something.

ANN:

Stick a fork through me! I'm done.

I'll never get this speech right.

MOTHER:

Oh, yes you will, Ann dear . . .

you're very clever.

ANN:

Yeah, I know. What are you looking

for?

MOTHER:

Your purse. I need ten dollars.

ANN:

What for? I gave you fifty just

the other day.

MOTHER:

Yes, I know, dear, but Mrs. Burke

had her baby yesterday. Nine pounds!

And there wasn't a thing in the

house—and then this morning the

Community Chest lady came around

and—

ANN:

And the fifty's all gone, huh?

Who's the ten for?

MOTHER:

The Websters.

ANN:

The Websters!

MOTHER:

You remember those lovely people

your father used to take care of?

I thought I'd buy them some

groceries. Oh, Ann, dear, it's a

shame, those poor—

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