Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #10

JEFFERSON:

Yeah, Dad always used to say the

only causes worth fighting for were

lost causes.

PAINE:

You don't have to tell me Jeff. We

were a team, the two of us, a

struggling editor and a struggling

lawyer. The twin champions of lost

causes, they used to call us.

JEFFERSON:

Ma's told me about it a thousand

times.

PAINE:

His last fight was his best, Jeff.

He and his little four-page paper

against that mining syndicate and

all to defend the right of one small

miner who stuck to his claim. You

know, they tried everything, bribery,

intimidation, then--well--

JEFFERSON:

Yes, Ma found him slumped over his

desk that morning...

PAINE:

Shot in the back. I was there. I can

see him at that old roll top desk,

still with his hat on... still with

his hat on...

JEFFERSON:

I know. I suppose, Mr. Paine, when a

fellow bucks up against a big

organization like that, one man by

himself can't get very far, can he?

PAINE:

No.

The scene fades out.

In the TRAIN SHED (Washington D.C.), we see McGann, Paine,

Jefferson, Porters and bags.

JEFFERSON:

Washington!

MCGANN:

Yeah, for the fifth time, Senator--

Washington.

JEFFERSON:

My pigeons--I better see about my

pigeons.

MCGANN:

The porter's got them. They're coming.

JEFFERSON:

(running out)

Just a minute, I better make sure.

MCGANN:

(to Paine)

Boy! My head's like a balloon--for

two whole days. I never knew there

was so much American history.

PAINE:

(kidding)

You can't find it in racing forms,

Chick.

MCGANN:

Fine thing Jim Taylor wished on me--

show him the monuments--I need this

job like I need ten pounds.

Jeff comes back carrying the pigeons.

JEFFERSON:

Here they are--I got them. They are

all right.

MCGANN:

Well, that ends that crisis. This

way, Senator.

They exit.

At the STATION:
Jeff, McGann, Paine and Porters walk in.

Susan Paine and three other girls rush in and kiss Paine and

Jeff. The girls carry little cans or boxes with milk fund

ribbons on them--in which they collect money.

GIRLS:

Hello, Father.

I saw him first.

He's mine---

Jeff is utterly confused by the four girls trying to kiss

him.

PAINE:

Here, here, Susan--this is Jeff Smith--

our new Senator.

SUSAN:

I don't care to meet anybody until I

get paid--come on--come on. One dollar

each, please, for the Milk Fund.

ANOTHER GIRL:

If you don't pay quickly you'll get

kissed again.

JEFFERSON:

(confused and searching

in his pockets)

A dollar--four dollars. Gosh! You

wouldn't settle for some keys, would

you?

PAINE:

Here, Jeff, I'll advance it for you.--

Fine introduction to the nation's

capital!

MCGANN:

(pulling out a roll)

Here, I'll take a dozen of those

things. Miss Paine.

SUSAN:

(taking money)

Thank you, Mister McGann, you have a

very kind heart.

McGann "burns" at not being kissed.

PAINE:

This is my daughter, Susan, and her

friends--Senator Jefferson Smith.

GIRLS:

How do you do?

Meet the new Senator.

I thought he'd be a Ranger with a

big hat.

SUSAN:

(pointing at the

pigeons)

What have you got there, Senator?

MCGANN:

Pigeons--to carry messages back to

Ma.

JEFFERSON:

Just for the fun of it.--You see the

one that makes it back home in the

fastest time, I am going to enter in

the nationals.

SUSAN:

Wonderful!

ANOTHER GIRL:

There's romance in him.

SUSAN:

Imagine having love notes delivered

to you by a pigeon.

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