Meet John Doe Page #18

ANN completes the phone call—crosses to MRS. BREWSTER.

ANN:

Sorry, ladies. Mr. Doe can't be

bothered now. He's gotta make a

speech out there, and—

While she gets them out—MIKE slips into the room.

CLOSE SHOT:
MIKE and JOHN.

MIKE:

Have you got the speech I gave

you?

JOHN:

(taps breast pocket)

Yeah.

MIKE:

Now, look. I'll give this money to

the Colonel just as soon as you

get started. We'll have a car

waiting at the side entrance for

you.

JOHN:

Okay.

FULL SHOT:
ANN turns away from the door.

ANN:

(to MIKE)

How'd you get in here?

MIKE:

Huh? Oh, I just came in to wish

him luck.

ANN:

Come on, out. Out!

(turning to John)

Mother says good luck, too. John,

when you read that speech, please,

please believe every word of it.

He's turned out to be a wonderful

person, John.

JOHN:

Who?

ANN:

John Doe, the one in the speech.

JOHN:

Oh. Yeah.

ANN:

You know something? I've actually

fallen in love with him.

FULL SHOT:
They are interrupted by the arrival of CONNELL.

He is accompanied by several photographers—and a beautiful

girl in a bathing suit. A banner across her front reads:

"Miss Average Girl".

CONNELL:

All right, there he is, sister.

Now, come on—plenty of oomph!

The GIRL, all smiles, throws her arms around JOHN's

shoulder—and strikes a languid pose. The flashlights go

off.

ANN:

What's the idea?

CONNELL:

No, no, no. Now that's too much!

PHOTOGRAPHER:

One moment, please.

ANN:

This is no time for cheap publicity,

Mr. Connell!

CONNELL:

Listen. If that guy lays an egg. I

want to get something out of it.

I'm getting a Jane Doe ready!

ANN:

(trying to get rid

of them)

That's fine, honey. Now, get out!

PHOTOGRAPHER:

All right. I need one more.

ANN:

Go right ahead.

While there is this confusion, the COLONEL pushes in and

stands in the doorway.

COLONEL:

How're you doin'?

CONNELL:

(calls to Beany

outside)

All right, Beany—bring 'em in!

While CONNELL speaks, two MIDGETS push the COLONEL out of

the way and enter the room. The COLONEL glances down—and

nearly jumps out of his skin. BEANY follows them in.

COLONEL:

Holy smoke! A half a heelot!

BEANY:

There you are, Boss, just like you

ordered. Symbols of the little

people.

CONNELL:

Okay. Get them up.

BEANY lifts them and places them, one on each of JOHN's

arms. The flashlights go off.

ANN:

This is ridiculous, Mr. Connell!

Come on, give him a chance. The

man's on the air!

While she speaks, she tries to shove the photographers

out.

BOY MIDGET:

(to girl midget)

Come on, Snooks—you better bail

out.

GIRL MIDGET:

(coquettishly)

Goodbye, Mr. Doe!

BEANY lifts her off—and ANN pushes them all out—just as

the STAGE MANAGER reappears.

STAGE MANAGER:

Better get ready. One minute to

go!

TWO SHOT:
JOHN and ANN. ANN turns quickly to JOHN.

ANN:

Wow! One minute to go, and the

score is nothing to nothing! Now,

please, John, you won't let me

down, will you? Will you? 'Course

you won't. If you'll just think of

yourself as the real John Doe.

Listen. Everything in that speech

are things a certain man believed

in. He was my father, John. And

when he talked, people listened.

They'll listen to you, too.

Funny—you know what my mother said

the other night? She said to look

into your eyes—that I'd see Father

there.

STAGE MANAGER:

Hey—what do you say?

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