Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #32

With his free hand, he reaches into his coat pocket. He

unrolls a newspaper. Longfellow shifts his glance over to

the photograph in the newspaper Cobb holds up, and slowly

his grip on Cobb relaxes. He takes the newspaper.

CLOSEUP - LONGFELLOW

As he looks at the picture.

INSERT:
PICTURE OF BABE BENNETT

UNDER WHICH IS THE FOLLOWING:

"Louise (Babe) Bennett - wins Pulitzer Prize for reportorial

job on Macklyn love triange."

BACK TO SCENE:

Longfellow stares long and unbelievingly at the picture.

208. MED. CLOSE SHOT - COBB AND LONGFELLOW

COBB:

(adjusting his

clothes)

She's the star reporter on The

Mail. Every time you opened your

kisser, you gave her another story.

She's the dame who slapped that

monicker on you - "Cinderella Man."

You've been making love to a double

dose of cyanide!

LONGFELLOW:

(an outcry)

Shut up!

Longfellow, stunned, crosses to the bed - CAMERA PANNING

WITH HIM. He slumps down and continues staring at picture.

209. MEDIUM SHOT

Cobb crosses to phone and picks up receiver.

CUT TO:

INT. NEWSPAPER OUTER OFFICE

MED. CLOSE SHOT

Babe is at her desk. She has just finished rummaging through

her desk. Many articles are on top. Mac is by her side.

Babe flicks the pages of a small loose-leaf book, and hands

it to Mac.

BABE:

This is for you , Mac. The names

of all the headwaiters in town.

You can always buy a bit of choice

scandal from them at reasonable

prices.

MAC:

Aw, listen Babe, I can't let you

quit now. You're not going through

with this thing, are you?

Babe shakes her head with finality, as the phone bell rings.

MAC:

(picking up receiver)

I've seen 'em get in a rut like

you before - but they always come

back.

(into phone)

Hello . . . Yes. Just a minute.

He holds the receiver out to her.

MAC:

It's for you. In a couple weeks

you'll get the itch so bad, you'll

be working for nothing.

BABE:

(into phone)

Hello . . .

INT. LONGFELLOW'S BEDROOM

211. MEDIUM SHOT

Cobb is at the phone.

COBB:

Babe Bennett? Just a minute.

He listens and hands phone to Longfellow.

LONGFELLOW:

(into phone)

Hello, Mary?

INT. NEWSPAPER OUTER OFFICE

CLOSE SHOT - BABE

BABE:

(at phone)

Oh, hello darling.

Her face goes dead as she realizes she is speaking to

Longfellow.

INT. LONGFELLOW'S BEDROOM

CLOSE SHOT - LONGFELLOW

LONGFELLOW:

(at phone; strained)

Is it you who's been writing those

articles about me?

INT. NEWSPAPER OUTER OFFICE

CLOSE SHOT - BABE

At phone.

BABE:

Why - uh - I was just leaving -

I'll be up there in a minute—

(listens)

Look - uh, yes, I did - but I was

just coming up to explain—

The words die in her throat. She looks dully at the

receiver.

INT. LONGFELLOW'S BEDROOM

CLOSEUP - LONGFELLOW

BABE'S VOICE

(coming over phone)

Oh listen, darling, wait a minute!

Please! Listen—

He hangs up. His face is a dead mask, every illusion

shattered. Slowly, a wry smile appears on his face and,

rising, he wanders around the room in deep abstraction.

Cobb and Walter watch him sympathetically.

Longfellow is silent a long time.

216. MEDIUM SHOT

As a butler enters.

BUTLER:

I beg pardon, sir. Shall I serve

the wine with the squab, sir?

Longfellow doesn't hear him.

BUTLER:

(tries again)

I beg pardon, sir.

CLOSEUP - COBB

His face softens.

COBB:

If I knew you were going to take

it so hard, I woulda kept my mouth

shut. Sorry.

218. MEDIUM SHOT

As finally Longfellow speaks,

without turning.

LONGFELLOW:

(quietly)

Pack my things, Walter. I'm going

home.

WALTER:

Yes, sir.

He immediately busies himself.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CORRIDOR

219. WIDE SHOT

Longfellow emerges from his bedroom, walking briskly toward

the staircase, immediately followed by Cobb and Walter.

Walter is loaded down with suitcases. Longfellow is wearing

coat and hat.

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