Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #25

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM OF MABEL DAWSON'S STUDIO

156. CLOSEUP

Of typewriter carriage. It contains a paper upon which the

following is typed:

"CINDERELLA MAN FIRE-EATING DEMON"

"Longfellow Deeds, 'The Cinderella Man,' last night threw

a 'defy' into the teeth of the New York Fire Department,

that when it comes to extinguishing conflagrations - they

had better look to their laurels—"

CAMERA PULLS BACK and we find Babe, staring at the sheet

of paper in front of her. Her eyes have a distant look.

157. FULL SHOT

Several feet away from her Mabel Dawson stands in front of

an easel, working silently on a painting. She dabs at it

and turning, pauses a moment to watch Babe, who at the

moment rests her forehead on the typewriter carriage.

MABEL:

(softly)

What's the matter, hon?

BABE:

(quickly)

Nothing.

Babe is too much absorbed to hear this. Getting no response,

Mabel turns and studies her for a few seconds.

MABEL:

What's up, Babe? Something's eating

you.

BABE:

No. It's nothing.

MABEL:

My unfailing instinct tells me

something's gone wrong with the

stew.

BABE:

(murmuring)

Don't be ridiculous.

She again resumes her typing. Mabel crosses to her and

looks over her shoulder.

MABEL:

You haven't gotten very far, have

you? That's where you were an hour

ago. Come on, let's knock off and

go down to Joe's. The gang's waiting

for us.

BABE:

(jumping up)

I can't write it, Mabel! I don't

know what's the matter with me.

Babe lights a cigarette. Mabel studies her.

MABEL:

(quietly)

Uh-huh. I think I can tell you.

The phone bell rings. Mabel picks it up.

CLOSE SHOT AT PHONE

MABEL:

(into phone)

Hello . . .

(listens)

Yes, she's here. Who wants her?

(listens)

Who?

(listens)

Oh, yes. Yes, just a moment.

(her hand over the

mouthpiece)

It's him - whatcha-ma-call-him -

the "Cinderella Man." The

"Cinderella Man"!

Babe grabs the phone.

BABE:

Hello.

INT. LONGFELLOW'S BEDROOM

CLOSE SHOT - LONGFELLOW

Who lies dressed in bed, phone in hand.

LONGFELLOW:

(into phone)

Couldn't sleep. Kinda wanted to

talk to you. Do you mind?

INT. MABEL'S LIVING ROOM

160. CLOSE SHOT - BABE AT PHONE

BABE:

(sincerely)

No - not at all. I couldn't sleep

either.

INT. LONGFELLOW'S BEDROOM

CLOSE SHOT - LONGFELLOW

At phone.

LONGFELLOW:

I wanted to thank you again for

going out with me.

(listens)

Huh? Well, I don't know what I'd

do without you. You've made up for

all the fakes that I've met.

CONTINUATION SCENE 160

BABE:

Well, that's very nice. Thank you.

CONTINUATION SCENE 161

LONGFELLOW:

You know what I've been doing since

I got home? Been working on a poem.

(listens)

It's about you.

(listens)

Sometimes it's kinda hard for me

to say things - so I write 'em.

CONTINUATION SCENE 160

BABE:

(touched)

I'd like to read it some time.

She listens for a moment, apparently moved by his sweetness.

CONTINUATION SCENE 161

LONGFELLOW:

Maybe I'll have it finished next

time I see you.

(listens)

Will I see you soon?

(listens)

Gosh, that's swell, Mary.

(listens)

Good night.

He hangs up, and lies back - enthralled.

CONTINUATION SCENE 160

BABE:

Good night.

INT. APT. LIVING ROOM

162. MED. CLOSE SHOT - AT PHONE

BABE:

Mabel, that guy's either the

dumbest, the stupidest, the most

imbecilic idiot in the world - or

he's the grandest thing alive. I

can't make him out.

MED. CLOSE SHOT - THE TWO

MABEL:

(knowingly)

Uh-huh.

BABE:

I'm crucifying him.

MABEL:

People have been crucified before.

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