Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Page #17

SAUNDERS:

(impatient)

Go away, Nosey.

NOSEY:

Saunders--it's meat and drink--lemme

at 'im! Five minutes--! I'll make it

right with you!

DIZ:

Will you go chase an ambulance!

SAUNDERS:

Whadaya mean--*right*?

NOSEY:

What do I *mean*, huh? Uh--*I'll*

tell ya--World's Series--a pass! In

a month it's worth fifteen bucks!

SAUNDERS:

Well, well!

DIZ:

(to Saunders)

Hey--you're not *talking* to this

guy!

NOSEY:

Whadaya say?

DIZ:

Nothin'! Beat it!

SAUNDERS:

Look, Nosey--your pals would like to

get in on this, wouldn't they?

NOSEY:

Hey--I wanna *scoop*!

SAUNDERS:

Well, that's out. Either it's *lots*

of reporters and *lots* of tickets

or--. Now will you go and call 'em

before I change my mind about the

whole thing!

NOSEY:

Okay. See you here.

He charges off. Saunders clambers down off the stool. Diz

grabs her arm.

DIZ:

Kid--wait--what do you think you're

going to do?

SAUNDERS:

Get my *whole* fall outfit--and quit

this job in style!

DIZ:

Now, you've got more sense than to

put Nosey onto this guy--!

SAUNDERS:

(thinking hard)

Wait--wait. Let's see--watchdog McGann--

he's bound to move right in--get him

out of the way first--

(Then)

Pardon me, friend--I've got some

telephoning to do--!

(And she rushes off)

The scene dissolves to a PHONE BOOTH, with SAUNDERS on the

phone.

SAUNDERS:

(laying on a Southern

accent)

Mr. McGann?... This is Miss Lulu

Love.

In MCGANN'S ROOM, MCGANN is on the phone; behind him, his

suitcases are open.

MCGANN:

Who?

In the PHONE BOOTH:

SAUNDERS:

Oh, you don't know *me*, Mr. McGann--

but I've seen *you* in Washington

before--and I think you're awfully

cute. Mr. Griffith told me you got

in and maybe you were a little lonely--

In MCGANN'S ROOM:

MCGANN:

(taking it big)

Did, huh? Well, now, he's not wrong

at all... Tonight? Sister, that's

just what the doctor ordered... Whoa,

wait a minute--

He looks off, and through a partly opened door leading into

Jeff's room. Jeff appears standing at the window with one of

his pigeons, while McGann is heard on the phone.

MCGANN'S VOICE

I'm not sure I can make that, Lulu.

Hold on a second, will you?

(He puts his hand

over the mouthpiece,

and calls out)

Say--Senator! How're you fixed--I

mean--uh--you're gonna stay in and

write to Ma and the boys, like you

said, huh?

In JEFF'S ROOM, JEFF is inserting a small roll of paper in a

little metal container on the pigeon's leg.

JEFFERSON:

(without turning)

Uh-huh.

MCGANN'S VOICE

Not going out or anything?

JEFFERSON:

No. Why?

In MCGANN'S ROOM:

MCGANN:

(yelling to Jeff)

Atta boy. Right into bed for a nice

long sleep. Me, too.

(Then--softly, into

phone)

Okay, Toots! When and where?

In the PHONE BOOTH, Saunders is still speaking.

SAUNDERS:

(into the phone)

Now isn't that nice! Let's say the

Mayflower lobby, Mr. McGann--in a

half hour... What I *look* like?

Well, I got red hair and--oh, that's

all right--I know what *you* look

like--you cute thing. Goodbye.

(She hangs up)

In MCGANN'S ROOM, McGann hangs up, tiptoes over quickly and

closes the door to Jeff's room, then makes a dash for his

coat.

MCGANN:

Boy, oh, boy! Red Hair! McGann--you

fell into something!

The scene dissolves to the HOTEL LOBBY at night, and MCGANN

is seen watching for his date, but in JEFFERSON'S BOARDING

HOUSE SITTING ROOM there is a startling tableau: Jeff is

standing in the center of this rather homely, anciently

appointed sitting room, surrounded by ten or a dozen newspaper

men, three or four of whom have cameras. A woman reporter is

present. Nosey is leading the circus as the main interrogator

and master of ceremonies. Cameras are flashing, while

Jefferson is posing, pleased and happy and proud.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes