Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #15

She holds the phone.

JEFFERSON:

Is--is something the matter?

SAUNDERS:

Oh, no--no!

(Then with heavy

sarcasm)

My dear *Senator*--it may be customary

out on the prairie to take French

leave of people and not be heard of

again for five hours--

JEFFERSON:

Gee--I'm sorry about that, Miss--you

*are* Miss Saunders, aren't you?

SAUNDERS:

Yes, I'm Saunders--and this is Mr.

Moore--a member of the press. Meet

the *Senator*, Mr. Moore.

JEFFERSON:

(seizing Diz' hand)

Pleased to meet you, sir.

DIZ:

(wincing under the

handshake)

How do you do, Senator? I see you

made it.

JEFFERSON:

Made it? Oh! Yes. Silly of me--you

see, what happened was--

SAUNDERS:

(suddenly into the

phone, with heavy

sarcasm)

Hello... Yes, Senator Paine. Yes.

Right here. Just came in--under his

own power... Yes--he's sober--that's

the very next thing on the schedule...

Yes, sir, I'll have him right over.

She hangs up, and comes forward to Jefferson.

JEFFERSON:

Gee, I'm sorry. You see, it wasn't

until I was fairly well along in the

bus that I realized--

SAUNDERS:

Did you say--bus?

JEFFERSON:

One of those sightseers--you know.

You see, I--gosh, I've never been

called absent-minded or... but there

it was all of a sudden--looking right

at me through one of the station

doors--

SAUNDERS:

There *what* was?

JEFFERSON:

The Dome--the Capitol Dome--

Saunders just looks at Diz with wide eyes.

JEFFERSON:

--big as life--sparkling away there

under the sun. I--I started walking

toward it--and there was a bus outside--

and--well--I--I just naturally got

aboard--

SAUNDERS:

Most natural thing in the world!

JEFFERSON:

I don't believe I've been so thrilled

in my--oh, and that Lincoln Memorial!

Gee! There he is--Mr. Lincoln--looking

right at you as you come up the steps--

sitting there like he was waiting

for someone to come along--

SAUNDERS:

Well--he's got nothing on me.

She turns away and starts for her hat and coat.

SAUNDERS:

Now, if you're ready, Senator, we

can start for the hotel. I'll *see*

that you get there.

JEFFERSON:

(with a laugh)

Yes--I think maybe you'd better.

The scene dissolves to the interior of the TAXICAB with

JEFFERSON AND SAUNDERS, Jefferson looking out of the windows,

seeing what he can see, even though it's night; Saunders

giving him an impatient, martyred look.

JEFFERSON:

(pointing out)

Whose statue is that?

SAUNDERS:

I wouldn't know in the *day time*.

Suddenly he leans over Saunders and points excitedly out her

side of the cab.

JEFFERSON:

The Capitol Dome! Lighted up!

SAUNDERS:

(gently pushing him

off)

You--uh--you better relax, Senator.

You'll be plumb wore out.

JEFFERSON:

Tell me, Miss Saunders--what time

does the Senate--uh--what do they

call it?

SAUNDERS:

Convene?

JEFFERSON:

Convene--that's it--yes. I got to

pick up some of those parliamentary

words. I imagine a fellow can get

pretty lost in the Senate without

'em--

SAUNDERS:

(more or less under

her breath)

With or without 'em.

(Quickly)

Twelve--noon. The Senate convenes at

twelve o'clock.

JEFFERSON:

(breaking in--full of

the idea)

Gosh--that'll be something! You know

what I better do in the morning?

SAUNDERS:

(wearily)

No. What had you better--?

JEFFERSON:

Go out to Mount Vernon. It'd be a

sort of fine thing to do--see

Washington's home just before walking

into the Senate for the first time--

don't you think?

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