Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #3

CEDAR:

Is Mr. Deeds in?

MRS. MEREDITH

No - he's over to the park arranging

for the bazaar, so's to raise money

for the fire engine.

(to old man)

Mal, you shoulda knowed he was in

the park.

AGENT:

Knew it all the time. But these

men said they wanted to see the

house.

(mumbling as he

exits)

Can't read their minds if they

don't say what they want.

9. GROUP SHOT

Cobb glares after him exasperatedly. Mrs. Meredith turns

to Cobb and Cedar.

MRS. MEREDITH

Come in, please. Come in. Can I

get you a cup of tea?

CEDAR:

No, thanks.

MRS. MEREDITH

Sit down. Sure I couldn't get you

a glass of lemonade or something?

CEDAR:

That's very kind of you. Are you

related to him?

MRS. MEREDITH

No, I'm his housekeeper.

CEDAR:

Well, we'd like to find out

something about him. What does he

do for a living?

MRS. MEREDITH

He and Jim Mason own the Tallow

Works. But that's not where he

makes his money. He makes most of

it from his poetry.

CLOSE SHOT - THE THREE

Featuring Cobb.

COBB:

(skeptically)

He writes poetry?

MRS. MEREDITH

Oh, my goodness, yes. Longfellow's

famous. He writes all those things

on postcards. You know, for

Christmas - and Easter - and

birthdays. Sit down, please.

She reaches over to a desk and picks one up.

MRS. MEREDITH

Here's one - he got $25 for this

one.

CLOSEUP - MRS. MEREDITH

AS SHE READS - WITH FEELING:

MRS. MEREDITH

"When you've nowhere to turn - and

you're filled with doubt - Don't

stand in midstream, hesitating,

For you know that your mother's

heart cries out - 'I'm waiting, my

boy, I'm waiting.'"

(she looks up)

Isn't that beautiful?

CLOSEUP - COBB

His eyes open unbelievingly.

MRS. MEREDITH'S VOICE

Isn't it a lovely sentiment?

COBB:

(flatly)

Yeah.

A dog enters, racing toward the door, scratching at it and

whining.

MRS. MEREDITH

(as she heads toward

the door)

Here he is now.

She opens the door and goes out, with the dog racing ahead.

COBB:

(to Cedar - sotto

voce)

I suggest you break it to him

gently. He's liable to keel over

from the shock.

Mrs. Meredith re-appears. We hear her voice as she comes

through the doorway.

MRS. MEREDITH

They've been waiting a long while.

Longfellow Deeds trails behind her.

LONGFELLOW:

Who are they?

MRS. MEREDITH

I don't know.

CEDAR:

(standing - formally)

Mr. Longfellow Deeds?

LONGFELLOW:

Yes.

CEDAR:

How do you do.

LONGFELLOW:

(shaking hands)

How do you do.

CEDAR:

(extending card)

I'm John Cedar - of the New York

firm of Cedar, Cedar, Cedar and

Budington.

CLOSE SHOT - GROUP

Featuring Cobb. He watches Longfellow who is glancing at

the card.

LONGFELLOW:

(reads to himself)

Cedar, Cedar, Cedar and Budington.

(looks up; smiles)

Budington must feel like an awful

stranger, hmm?

Cobb's eyes pop at the nifty.[1]

CEDAR:

Mr. Cornelius Cobb and Mr. Anderson.

They exchange greetings. Longfellow gestures to chairs.

LONGFELLOW:

You gentlemen make yourselves

comfortable.

COBB AND ANDERSON

Thanks.

14. MEDIUM SHOT

Longfellow crosses to his tuba near a chair. He takes a

mouthpiece out of his pocket.

LONGFELLOW:

New mouthpiece. Been waiting two

weeks for this. Kids keep swiping

them all the time. They use 'em

for bean shooters.

(he blows a note)

What can I do for you gentlemen?

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