Meet John Doe Page #9

She waves the photographers out, and shuts the door.

CONNELL:

But, he's gonna jump off a building!

ANN:

Yes, but not because he's out of a

job. That's not news! This man's

going to jump as a matter of

principle.

CONNELL:

Well, maybe you're right.

ANN:

We'll clean him up and put him in

a hotel room—under bodyguards.

We'll make a mystery out of him.

(suddenly)

Did you speak to Mr. Norton?

CONNELL:

(nods)

Thinks it's terrific. Says for us

to go the limit. Wants us to build

a bonfire under every big shot in

the state.

ANN:

Oh, swell! Is that the contract?

(seeing paper in

CONNELL's hand)

CONNELL:

Yes.

(sees the COLONEL)

What's he doing here?

ANN:

Friend of his. They play duets

together.

CONNELL:

Duets? But can we trust him?

ANN:

Oh!

JOHN:

I trust him.

CONNELL:

Oh, you trust him, eh? Well, that's

fine. I suppose he trusts you,

too?

ANN:

Oh, stop worrying. He's all right.

COLONEL:

(insulted)

That's—

CONNELL:

Well, okay. But we don't want more

than a couple o' hundred people in

on this thing. Now the first thing

I want is an exact copy of the

John Doe letter in your own

handwriting.

ANN:

I got it all ready. Here.

CONNELL:

Well, that's fine. Now I want you

to sign this agreement. It gives

us an exclusive story under your

name day by day from now until

Christmas. On December twenty-sixth,

you get one railroad ticket out of

town, and the Bulletin agrees to

pay to have your arm fixed. That's

what you want, isn't it?

JOHN:

Yeah, but it's got to be by Bone-

Setter Brown.

CONNELL:

Okay, Bone-Setter Brown goes. Here,

sign it. Meanwhile, here's fifty

dollars for spending money. That's

fine. Beany!

BEANY:

Yeah, Boss?

CONNELL:

Take charge of him. Get him a suite

at the Imperial and hire some

bodyguards.

ANN:

Yeah, and some new clothes, Beany.

BEANY:

Do you think we better have him de-

loused?

CONNELL:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

BEANY:

Both of 'em?

CONNELL:

Yes, both of 'em! But don't let

him out of your sight.

ANN:

Hey, Beany, gray suit, huh?

BEANY:

Yeah.

CONNELL:

Okay, fellows.

ANN:

Take it easy, John Doe.

JOHN and the COLONEL follow BEANY out.

CONNELL:

(turns to Ann)

And you! Start pounding that

typewriter. Oh, boy! This is

terrific! No responsibilities on

our part. Just statements from

John Doe and we can blast our heads

off.

ANN:

(interrupting)

Before you pop too many buttons,

don't forget to make out that check

for a thousand.

CONNELL:

(grimaces)

Awwwww!

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LIVING-ROOM OF SUITE

FULL SHOT:
The door opens and BEANY enters. He is followed

by JOHN and the COLONEL. JOHN glances around, impressed.

The COLONEL looks glum.

MED. SHOT:
At door. As JOHN exits scene into the room,

tailed by the unhappy COLONEL. BEANY beckons someone out

in the corridor.

BEANY:

Okay, fellas.

Three bruisers stand in the doorway.

BEANY:

Now, lemme see. You sit outside

the door. Nobody comes in, see.

You two fellas sit in here.

AS THEY REACH FOR CHAIRS,

CUT TO:

MED. SHOT:
JOHN is pleased as his gaze wanders around the

room

JOHN:

Hey, pretty nifty, huh?

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