Meet John Doe Page #17

JOHN:

Y-yeah. Gee, doggone it, I never

thought about that. Gosh!

MIKE:

And another thing, what about all

the kids in the country, the kids

that idolize ball players? What

are they gonna think about you?

(shakes his head)

Close shot:
Of the COLONEL. He has

dropped his glove—flopped into a

chair—and has taken out his ocarina.

JOHN'S VOICE

Hey, did you hear that, Colonel?

The COLONEL nods, disinterestedly, and begins to play.

WIDER SHOT:
JOHN ponders his dilemma for a second.

JOHN:

I gotta figure some way out of

this thing!

COLONEL:

The elevators are still runnin'.

MIKE:

(carelessly)

I know one way you can do it.

JOHN:

How?

MIKE:

Well, when you get up on the radio,

all you have to do is say the whole

thing's a frame-up. Make you a

hero sure as you're born!

John thinks this over, but something troubles him.

JOHN:

Yeah, but how am I gonna get my

arm fixed?

MIKE:

Well, that's a cinch. I know

somebody that'll give you five

thousand dollars just to get up on

the radio and tell the truth.

COLONEL:

(eyes popping)

Five thousand dollars?

MIKE:

Yeah. Five thousand dollars. And

he gets it right away. You don't

have to wait till Christmas.

COLONEL:

Look out, Long John! They're closing

in on you!

JOHN:

(ignores COLONEL)

Say, who's putting up this dough?

MIKE:

Feller runs the Chronicle .

(takes it out of

his pocket)

Here's the speech you make—and

it's all written out for you.

JOHN takes it.

CLOSE-UP:
Of the COLONEL.

COLONEL:

(eyes heaven-ward)

Five thousand dollars! Holy

mackerel! I can see the heelots

comin'. The whole army of them!

MIKE:

It's on the level.

CLOSE-UP:
Of JOHN.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. BROADCASTING STATION

CLOSE SHOT:
TELEPHONE OPERATORS.

1ST GIRL

No, I'm sorry. Tickets for the

broadcast are all gone. Phone the

Bulletin.

2ND GIRL

Sorry. No more tickets left.

MED. SHOT:
Crowd chattering—they recognize JOHN DOE coming

in.

CLOSE SHOT:
At a side door in broadcasting station. As the

COLONEL and MIKE take their places.

INT. OFFICE IN BROADCASTING STATION

FULL SHOT:
JOHN is led by BEANY into the office. They are

immediately followed by several photographers.

BEANY:

Here he is.

ANN:

Hello, John. All set for the big

night? Swell!

PHOTOGRAPHER:

Turn around.

2ND PHOTOGRAPHER

One moment—hold it! Now stand still,

Mr. Doe.

ANN:

Okay, Beany, take them outside.

TWO SHOT:
JOHN and ANN.

ANN:

Now, look, John. Here's the speech.

It's in caps and double-spaced.

You won't have any trouble reading

it. Not nervous, are you?

JOHN:

No.

ANN:

Of course not. He wouldn't be.

JOHN:

Who?

ANN:

John Doe. The one in there.

(pointing to speech)

BEANY:

Hey, don't let your knees rattle.

It picks up on the mike!

ANN:

Oh, Beany! You needn't be nervous,

John. All you have to remember is

to be sincere.

WIDER SHOT:
Man pokes his head in.

MAN:

Pick up the phone, Miss Mitchell.

It's for you.

ANN:

(takes phone)

Hello? Yes, Mother. Oh, thank you,

darling.

FULL SHOT:
While she speaks on the phone, MRS. BREWSTER

barges in, accompanied by two other ladies.

MRS. BREWSTER

Oh, there he is, the poor, dear

man! Oh, good luck to you, Mr.

Doe. We want you to know that we're

all for you. The girls all decided

that you're not to jump off any

roof a'tall. Oh, we'll stop it!

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