Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #36

LONGFELLOW:

(smiling)

Thanks. Thank you. Never mind,

Cobb.

He takes it, and he and the Swede silently eat. Longfellow

looks up.

LONGFELLOW:

Good.

The Swede smiles. Longfellow nibbles his sandwich, then

glances around the room. His gaze rests on:

234. LONG SHOT

Of the long line of applicants waiting for an audience.

235. MEDIUM SHOT

LONGFELLOW:

(calls to Cobb)

Cobb! Get lunch for the rest of

them.

COBB:

(entering)

What? There must be 2000 of them

out there.

LONGFELLOW:

Well, that doesn't make 'em any

less hungry.

COBB:

Okay, Santa Claus. 2000 lunches.

He exits. Longfellow glances over at the line, smiling.

236. FULL SHOT

In front of the line there is a slight scuffle, as a man

is being pushed forward by some others. He mumbles a

protest, tries to get back into position, but the men push

him forward again.

GROUP:

(ad-lib)

Go on, say something. Say something!

CLOSEUP - LONGFELLOW

He looks up inquiringly.

238. MED. CLOSE SHOT - MEN IN LINE

The man finally is resigned, and stands shifting, ill-at-

ease, his head hanging bashfully.

MAN:

Mr. Deeds, the boys here wanted me

to say a little something. They

just wanted me to say that—

(clears his throat)

Well, they wanted me to say that—

(quickly gets it

out)

We think you're swell - and that's

no baloney.

MAN'S VOICE

Say something more!

CLOSE SHOT - LONGFELLOW

He smiles self-consciously.

MED. CLOSE SHOT OF MEN

The spokesman apparently has not finished yet. Directly

behind the line, three officious-looking men have made

their appearance and wait for him to conclude.

MAN:

Give me a chance, fellas. We're

all down and out - but when a fellow

like you comes along, kinda gives

us a little hope - and they just

wanted me to say—

It's as far as he gets - as the three strangers break their

way through the line and approach Longfellow's desk.

ONE OF THE SHERIFFS

(ad-lib)

Break it up.

MED. SHOT AT DESK

FIRST DEPUTY SHERIFF

(pointing to

Longfellow)

That's him.

2ND DEPUTY SHERIFF

Are you Longfellow Deeds?

LONGFELLOW:

(looks up)

Yes?

FIRST DEPUTY SHERIFF

Sheriff's office.

(shows paper)

We've got a warrant to take you

into custody.

LONGFELLOW:

(without moving)

A what?

FIRST DEPUTY SHERIFF

A warrant for your arrest. You'll

have to come along with us.

Cobb enters.

COBB:

What's up? What do you mugs want?

FIRST DEPUTY SHERIFF

I don't know nothing, buddy. All I

know is the Sheriff gives me an

insanity warrant to execute.

COBB:

Insanity! Who's says he's insane?

They all turn to Charlie, who comes forward.

CHARLIE:

The complainant is a relative of

the late Martin Semple. The charges

are that Mr. Deeds is insane and

incapable of handling the Estate.

COBB:

Oh, somebody got panic-stricken

about his giving his dough away,

eh?

(to sheriff)

Where do you think you're going to

take him?

FIRST DEPUTY SHERIFF

To the County Hospital.

CHARLIE:

Of course, that's only temporary.

A hearing will follow immediately.

CLOSEUP - LONGFELLOW

As he speaks quietly.

LONGFELLOW:

That's fine. Just because I want

to give this money to people who

need it, they think I'm crazy.

(cynically)

That's marvelous. That makes

everything complete.

243. WIDER ANGLE

To include group.

FIRST DEPUTY SHERIFF

Let's get going!

COBB:

Wait a minute! Not so fast. We're

going to get a lawyer. I'll call

Cedar.

LONGFELLOW:

(thoroughly

disillusioned)

No, don't bother.

CHARLIE:

As a matter of fact, I'm from Mr.

Cedar's office. He represents the

complainant.

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