Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #20

LONGFELLOW:

(flatly)

Better bring me some coffee, Walter.

WALTER:

Very good, sir.

(remembering)

Oh, I beg pardon. A telegram came

for you, sir.

(he hands the

telegram to

Longfellow)

I'll get you some black coffee,

sir.

116. MEDIUM SHOT

Following Walter's exit. Longfellow quickly opens the

telegram. His face clouds. At this moment, Cobb comes

bursting into the room - a newspaper in his hand.

COBB:

(wildly)

Did you see all this stuff in the

papers?

LONGFELLOW:

(holding out telegram)

Arthur wants to quit!

COBB:

Arthur! Who's Arthur?

LONGFELLOW:

He's the shipping clerk at the

Tallow Works. Wants a $2 raise -

or he'll quit.

COBB:

(he goes crazy)

What do I care about Arthur! Did

you see this stuff in the paper?

How'd it get in there? What'd you

do last night? Who were you talking

to?

He flings the paper on the bed. Longfellow glances at it,

and his face clouds.

COBB:

(while Longfellow

reads)

And what'd you do to those

bodyguards? They quit this morning.

Said you locked them up.

LONGFELLOW:

Oh, they insisted on following me.

117. TWO SHOT

COBB:

(wildly)

What do you think bodyguards are

for?

LONGFELLOW:

(glances up)

What do they mean by this -

"Cinderella Man!"

COBB:

Are those stories true?

118. CLOSE SHOT - LONGFELLOW AND COBB

Longfellow has his eyes glued on the paper.

LONGFELLOW:

I don't remember. "Cinderella Man!"

What do they mean by that?

COBB:

They'd call you anything if you

gave them half a chance. They've

got you down as a sap.

LONGFELLOW:

(calmly)

I think I'll go down and punch

this editor on the nose.

COBB:

(quickly)

No, you don't! Get this clear:

Socking people is no solution for

anything.

119. TWO SHOT

LONGFELLOW:

Sometimes it's the only solution.

COBB:

Not editors. Take my word for it.

Not editors!

LONGFELLOW:

If they're going to poke fun at

me, I'm going to—

COBB:

(bends over,

earnestly)

Listen. Listen, Longfellow. You've

got brains, kid. You'll get along

swell if you'll only curb your

homicidal instincts - and keep

your trap shut. Don't talk to

anybody! These newshounds are out

gunning for you.

LONGFELLOW:

(referring to paper)

But what about this "Cinderella

Man"?

COBB:

That's my job. I'll take care of

that. I'll keep that stuff out of

the papers - if you'll help me.

But I can't do anything if you go

around talking to people. Will you

promise me to be careful from now

on?

LONGFELLOW:

Yes, I guess I'll have to.

COBB:

(mopping his brow)

Thank you.

(as he goes)

If you feel the building rock,

it'll be me blasting into this

editor.

120. MED. SHOT

He exits. During the scene Walter has entered with a tray,

which he has adjusted on Longfellow's knee.

LONGFELLOW:

Cobb's right. I mustn't talk to

anybody.

BUTLER:

(entering)

Miss Dawson on the phone, sir.

LONGFELLOW:

(alertly)

Who? Miss Dawson?

BUTLER:

Yes, sir.

LONGFELLOW:

Fine. I'll talk to her. Give me

the phone, quick. She's the only

one I'm going to talk to from now

on.

As the butler scurries around for the phone,

DISSOLVE TO:

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