Mr. Deeds Goes to Town Page #43

BOB:

Sure. I took the originals. Taking

pictures is my business. I

photograph a lot of nuts.

WIPE OFF TO:

As Cedar speaks.

CEDAR:

And now, Your Honor, if the court

pleases, I shall call upon Dr.

Emil Von Holler, if he will be

good enough to give us his opinion.

Dr. Von Holler, as you know, is

the eminent Austrian psychiatrist -

probably the greatest authority on

the subject in the world. At present

he is in this country on a lecture

tour, and has graciously volunteered

his services. Dr. Von Holler?

While he is still speaking,

VOICE OF BAILIFF

Dr. Von Holler!

DISSOLVE TO:

302. WIDER ANGLE

As the clerk finishes swearing Dr. Von Holler in.

CLERK:

Do you solemnly swear the testimony

you are about to give in the cause

now pending before this court shall

be the truth, the whole truth and

nothing but the truth, so help you

God? State your right name, please.

VON HOLLER:

(a slight Austrian

accent)

Emil Von Holler.

CLERK:

Take the stand.

303. MED. CLOSE SHOT AT WITNESS STAND

On Von Holler and Cedar.

CEDAR:

Now Dr. Von Holler, will you kindly

tell the court what your opinion

is on this case?

VON HOLLER:

This is purely a case of manic

depression. In cases of this kind,

patients sometimes go on for years

before being detected.

He turns to one of the psychiatrists, sitting with the

Judge.

VON HOLLER:

You remember, Dr. Fosdick, in my

last book there are some very fine

examples.

DR. FOSDICK

(nodding)

Uh-huh.

VON HOLLER:

Especially, the one of the young

nobleman, you remember?

DR. FOSDICK

Oh, yes. Yes, of course Dr. Von

Holler. Very interesting.

VON HOLLER:

It reminds me very much of this

one. Nicht wahr?

DR. FOSDICK

Ja.

VON HOLLER:

It takes so long to detect them—

(to Judge)

—because their mood changes so

often and so quickly. Now, Your

Honor, may I show you? May I use

the chart?

JUDGE:

By all means.

He moves to a blackboard. There are chalk marks on it. A

straight line runs diagonally across the center. Other

lines run zig-zag over and below this center line.

VON HOLLER:

(indicating chart)

Below here, they are extremely

depressed, melancholy, impossible

to live with, and often become

violent.

(running a line up)

From this mood the manic depressive

might gradually change until they

reach this state.

(he reaches the

center line)

Here is lucidity. Here they are

perfectly normal. As normal as you

or I—

(smiling)

—assuming, of course, that we are

normal.

(he starts up with

chalk)

Then, the mood changes again until—

(chalk reaches top)

—they reach this state, a state of

highest exaltation. Here everything

is fine. Here the world is

beautiful. Here they are so elated -

how do you express it?

(quickly, as it

comes to him)

—they would give you the shirt off

their backs!

CEDAR:

Dr. Von Holler, how would you say

that applied to Mr. Deeds's case?

VON HOLLER:

The symptoms are obvious.

(points to top line)

When he was here, on top of the

wave, he felt nothing but kindliness

and warmth toward his fellow-men.

He wanted them around him. So he

decided he would give a big

reception. But in the meantime,

his mood has changed.

(chalk goes down)

He is now at the bottom of the

wave - depressed - melancholy. So,

when his guests arrive, he throws

them out. They are now his imaginary

enemies.

CLOSE SHOT - LONGFELLOW

As Von Holler's voice continues:

VON HOLLER'S VOICE

Other instances of high elation

are when he plays his tuba, when

he writes his poetry, when he chases

fire engines in his desire to help

humanity. This is contrasted with

his present mood, which is so low

that even the instinct for self-

preservation is lacking.

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