Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #12

They all stop dead.

MCGANN:

Where is he? Hey, Senator! What's

the matter with that cookie? I *told*

him to--. Come on, let's find him.

Hey, Smith!

The three start back into the station.

The scene dissolves to the STATION, where McGann, Cook and

Griffith are coming together.

COOK:

Positively not in the station! Gone!

MCGANN:

I'll brain that guy! Well--call Paine--

call Saunders--

Carl rushes off.

MCGANN:

(yelling through cupped

hands)

Hey--*ranger*!

The scene dissolves to a PHONE BOOTH, in which Carl Cook is

telephoning.

COOK:

--Saunders! Smith hasn't showed up

at his office there, has he?... No?...

What do you mean 'the slip'?... What's

so funny?

In JEFF SMITH'S OUTER OFFICE (SENATE OFFICE BUILDING) SAUNDERS

is on the phone. She is a girl in her late twenties--pretty--

and a shrewd, keen, abrupt creature--who, at the moment laughs

mirthlessly.

SAUNDERS:

Nothing. Have you tried a butterfly

net?

In the PHONE BOOTH:

CARL:

Lay off, Saunders. If your feet felt

like mine... Listen--if he shows up

there--Paine's waiting at the hotel

with newspaper men--let him know

right away--understand?

In JEFF'S OUTER OFFICE, Saunders, on the phone, is regarding

Diz Moore--a fairly young, disheveled, freckle-faced Irishman,

at the moment stretched out on the sofa.

SAUNDERS:

Sure. Sure. I'll hang a light in the

steeple. One if by land--two if by

sea!... Okay!

(Hanging up)

Diz--you won't believe it. Daniel

Boone's *lost*!

DIZ:

No!

The door bursts open and a reporter called Nosey sticks his

head in.

NOSEY:

(a fast talker)

Is this new guy Smith here yet? I

want a little interview. How about

it? Arrived yet--?

SAUNDERS AND DIZ

(together)

No! Scram! Blow!

Nosey slams out.

SAUNDERS:

How do you *like* this! You don't

suppose that ranger met up with some

kids--and took 'em for a hike!

DIZ:

That--or he's out blazing trails.

He'll show up.

SAUNDERS:

Sure--sure. He must have a compass

with him.

The scene dissolves to the STATION, where McGann, Cook and

Griffith are very tired men.

MCGANN:

(mopping his brow)

--that dummy wandered off and got

hit by a taxi! Bill--call the

hospitals--hurry up--!

Bill runs off, McGann yelling after him.

MCGANN:

And while you're at it, get me a

bed!

COOK:

Let's send out a pigeon!

MCGANN:

Blow a bugle!

The exterior of the CAPITOL BUILDING is seen, in the view

from the Library of Congress side, showing both wings of

House and Senate with the steps leading up to the massive

columns.

SPIELER'S VOICE

--and there you have it, folks--the

Capitol of the United States--the

home of Congress--

IN FRONT OF THE CAPITOL, people in a bus are craning their

necks out--*and we find Jeff among them*! A spieler is

standing in front near the driver, speaking through a small

megaphone.

SPIELER:

Yes, *sir*! You are looking at the

building where your law-makers have

sat since the time of Washington--

In the BUS, Jeff looks at the Spieler suddenly.

JEFFERSON:

Since the time of Adams--not

Washington.

SPIELER:

How's that, buddy?

JEFFERSON:

I said--I mean--Washington didn't

live to see it finished. Congress

didn't move here from Philadelphia

till eighteen hundred.

SPIELER:

(trying to scare him

out of his facts)

Oh--you're *sure* of that now?

JEFFERSON:

Yes. Washington laid the cornerstone

though--wearing an apron for the

ceremony that was embroidered by

Madame Lafayette--

SPIELER:

(interrupting)

Yes, *sir*.

(Quickly to driver)

Let's *go* Henry.

The driver throws the bus into gear as the spieler gives

Jefferson a dirty look.

SPIELER:

Now, on your right, folks--you see

the Library of Congress--

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