Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #2

COBB'S VOICE

Welcome to Mandrake Falls -Where

the scenery enthralls -Where no

hardship e'er befalls -

Welcome to Mandrake Falls.

5. MEDIUM SHOT

Cobb and Cedar exchange glances.

COBB:

That's pretty.

CEDAR:

Are you sure this is the town he

lives in?

ANDERSON:

Yes sir, Mr. Cedar. This is the

town all right.

CEDAR:

Well, I dropped everything at the

office - I hope it's not a wild

goose chase.

ANDERSON:

No, sir. We checked it thoroughly.

He lives here all right.

COBB:

Ah! I spy a native. Let's ask him.

CAMERA MOVES WITH THEM as they cross to a small, one-story

old brick building, covered with ivy. This is the ticket

and freight office combined. In front of it is a very old

man, a stoop-shouldered rail agent with a face of a million

wrinkles - puttering around some packages.

CEDAR:

(as they approach)

Good morning.

AGENT:

(glances up)

Morning, neighbors. Morning.

He picks up a package and disappears into the building.

Cedar and Cobb look at each other.

COBB:

That's an excellent start. At least

we've broken the ice.

The old man returns to his pile of packages.

CEDAR:

I say, my friend, do you know a

fellow by the name of Longfellow

Deeds?

AGENT:

Deeds?

CEDAR:

Yes.

AGENT:

Yes, sir. Yes, indeedy. Everyone

knows Deeds.

CEDAR:

Yes, I—

He again disappears.

COBB:

Must be a game he's playing.

The old man shows up again.

CEDAR:

We'd like to get in touch with

him. It's very important.

AGENT:

Who's that?

CEDAR:

Deeds! Who do you think I'm talking

about?

AGENT:

Oh, yes - Deeds. Fine fellow. Very

democratic. You won't have no

trouble at all. Talk to anybody.

Whereupon the old man carries another package inside. Cobb

is properly exasperated now.

CEDAR:

I guess we'd better try somebody

else.

COBB:

No, we won't! The next time that

jumping jack comes out, I'll

straddle him while you ask him

your questions.

The old man emerges from the building and looks up at them

as if he's never seen them before.

AGENT:

Morning, neighbors.

6. TWO SHOT - COBB AND AGENT (FEATURING COBB)

Cobb grabs the old man as he turns to head back into the

building.

COBB:

Remember us? We're the fellows who

were here a minute ago.

AGENT:

Oh, yes. Yes, indeedy. I never

forget a face.

He turns again - but Cobb holds him by the arm and sets

him down on a small packing case.

COBB:

Listen, Pop, we've come all the

way from New York to look up a

fellow by the name of Deeds. It's

important - very important!

AGENT:

(releasing his arm)

You don't have to get rough,

neighbor. All you got to do is

ask.

COBB:

Then please pretend, for just one

fleeting moment, that I'm asking.

Where does he reside?

AGENT:

Who?

Cobb turns away in disgust. Anderson steps forward.

CLOSE SHOT - THE THREE

ANDERSON:

Longfellow Deeds - where does he

live?

AGENT:

Oh, that's what you want! Well,

why didn't you say so in the first

place instead of beating around

the bush? Those other fellows don't

know what they're talking about.

(as he exits scene)

Come on, I'll take you there in my

car. If they'd only explained to

me what they wanted, there would

be no trouble.

He leaves Cobb and Cedar staring after him killingly.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LONGFELLOW'S LIVING ROOM

8. MEDIUM SHOT

A little old lady, Mrs. Meredith, answers a knock at the

door. Cedar, Cobb and Anderson stand there, with the old

man at their heels. Mrs. Meredith is a sweet, soft-voiced,

timid and fluttery little creature.

MRS. MEREDITH

Oh, will you come in please,

gentlemen?

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